SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors center Marreese Speights said Friday he wants to concentrate on playing basketball rather than his pending legal issue.
Speights, 27, had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence in Tampa. The next court date is scheduled for October while the team is wrapping up its preseason schedule.
Asked if he had remorse for the events leading up to his Aug. 5 arrest in his home state, Speights said, “I’m just really trying to focus on just basketball right now. All of that other stuff will fall in place.”
Speights, after telling at-risk students at Visitacion Valley Middle School about overcoming obstacles as part of the Warriors’ Back to School in the Bay initiative, wrote on Instagram, “never would say I am (perfect) but I am growing as a person that can help change (a kid’s) life!!!”
The 6-foot-10 Speights averaged 6.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 12.4 minutes per game last season after signing a three-year, $11 million contract. He resolved this offseason to come into training camp in better shape so that he wouldn’t repeat the slow start he had last season.
“They’ve been going good,” Speights said of his offseason workouts. “I’m getting better every day. There’s always more room to improve, so we’ve got another week for that and camp.
“I feel way better, and all my teammates and coaches and people realize it too, so that’s a good feeling.”