By John Denton
Feb. 20, 2015
ORLANDO – Maybe it was only fitting that Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton started the post-All-Star Game part of his rookie season against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. After all, it was New Orleans that Payton faced in his first-ever regular-season NBA game back on Oct. 28.
Just the site of the Pelicans – the franchise that Payton grew up rooting for as a child while hailing from Gretna, La. – brought memories of that NBA debut flooding back to the 20-year-old Payton.
``Obviously there was nerves; I’m nervous before every game,’’ Payton said. ``But in my first game, being back home and having all of my family and friends in the stands, it was great. Having them watch my first career game, being able to start, scoring my first points and getting my first assist. It’s still crazy to think about.’’
That first game was filled with both positives and negatives for the player whom the Magic traded for on draft night last June. Payton, the 10th overall draft pick, made just two of eight shots – four of his attempts were blocked – but he added seven assists and five rebounds with his four points.
Payton’s father, Elfrid Sr., sat courtside for his son’s first game, while dozens of other family and friends watched from a suite that the rookie rented. Also, his college coach at Louisana-Lafayette, Bobby Marlin, and several of his former teammates attended the game.
Payton said that it hit him several days later just how fortunate that he was getting to open his NBA career just a couple of miles from where he grew up and later attended to college.
``That was so nice. I couldn’t write it any better,’’ said Payton, who entered Friday night’s game averaging 7.9 points, 5.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.55 steals a game.
HARRIS STILL HURTING: The Magic hoped that the extended break would help standout forward Tobias Harris get over a badly bruised right knee. However, after going through practices the past two days, Harris simply did not feel comfortable cutting on the knee and was held out of Friday night’s game.
It is the third game that Harris has missed because of an injury that he suffered on Feb. 8 in a last-second loss to the Chicago Bulls. Harris is Orlando’s leading scorer at 17.4 points per game and he is averaging career highs in several offensive and defensive categories this season.
``He’s still sore and limited and uncomfortable, so he’s still in that day-to-day thing,’’ Magic interim coach James Borrego said. ``The best I could see, he was uncomfortable (in practice), making sharp cuts. He did participate, but our players have to feel comfortable to be out there to play the game.’’
The Magic will be back on the practice court on Saturday and they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. The hope is that Harris will be back to play in two nights.
``I went through a little bit of practice and (the knee) felt OK. But it’s still healing and it’s a day-to-day thing,’’ Harris said. ``It’s still a good step in the right direction to do a little bit of things out there (on the practice court).’’
MONTY’S MEMORIES: Upon Borrego being promoted to head coach, one of the first congratulatory calls that he received was from New Orleans coach Monty Williams.
Their history dates back to 2005 when Borrego was an assistant video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs and Williams was a coaching intern with the Spurs after ending his playing days. Then, when Williams was named New Orleans’ head coach in 2010, he hired Borrego to be one of his assistant coaches. Borrego left the Pelicans in 2012 to be Jacque Vaughn’s top assistant in Orlando. And when Vaughn was fired on Feb. 5, Borrego was promoted to interim head coach.
``J.B. and I were really good friends before we ever even thought about being head coaches,’’ Williams said. ``Our families are really close and it was a tough decision for us to let him come here. But by the grace of God, he’s got a great job in a great city and I know he’s excited. He’ll be special here.’’
Williams said his time with Borrego taught him about the 37-year-old’s attention to detail and his calm demeanor. But he added that Borrego also has a fiery side and he won’t hesitate to hold players accountable for errors.
``He’s got great patience and a great way abut him. Nothing rattles him, but he’s not afraid to speak his mind,’’ Williams said. ``He’s understands the game and he’s been around the so many good basketball minds – minus mine. His way is different from any other coach that you are going to see in the NBA. He’s just real patient and he plods along. You almost think he’s too laid back at times, but he’s got a bit of a streak in him too and I’ve seen it come out when he wants to make his point. I just think that he has a great personality to be a head coach.’’
AUTOGRAPH OPPORTUNITIES: Magic standouts Nikola Vucevic and Payton and some of the Magic Dancers will sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans on Saturday at the Downtown Food and Wine Festival in Orlando.
The Magic booth for the event will be set up on the corner of Robinson and Rosalind Ave. Vucevic will be on hand from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. to meet with fans, while Payton will sign autographs and pose for pictures from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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