Player Capsules: Kyle O'Quinn

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By John Denton May 3, 2013

ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic’s run of six straight seasons in the playoffs is over, ending the Eastern Conference’s longest such streak. But not all is lost for a Magic franchise with a bright future.

The Magic have a history of success that says that the franchise will soon be back in the NBA’s postseason. In the past 20 years, the Magic have made the playoffs 14 times – the fifth most times of any NBA franchise. And since the 1992-93 season, Orlando has had a .500-or-better record 16 times – also the fourth-best mark in the NBA over that time frame.

There are plenty of positives to come out of the 2012-13 season as the Magic have established a core of promising young players and they have a base of veterans expected to return next season.

Orlando also has secured the best odds at getting the top overall pick in the June 27 NBA Draft. The draft order will be determined in the May 21 NBA lottery, a process in which the Magic have a 25 percent chance of winning. The Magic have won the NBA’s top overall pick three times, and the last time they were in this situation they won the top pick and used it to select Dwight Howard in 2004.

Looking back on the 2012-13 season, we here at orlandomagic.com are going to spend the next three weeks breaking down each of the players currently on the Magic roster. We’ll look at their stats, highs and lows from the season, a favorite moment and analyze their role for the future.

So without further ado, here is today’s Magic player capsule:

NAME: Kyle O’Quinn
JERSEY NUMBER: 2
HEIGHT, WEIGHT: 6-10, 240
POSITION: Center
NBA SEASONS: 1
AGE: 23

2012-13 SEASON STATS: 57 games, 4.1 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 51.3 percent FG, 66.7 percent FT.

2012-13 SEASON HIGHS: 23 points (March 27 vs. Bobcats); 14 rebounds (March 20 vs. Knicks); 6 assists (March 27 vs. Bobcats); 2 steals (Feb. 13 vs. Hawks); 2 block (five times – latest April 7 vs. Cavaliers); 42 minutes (March 27 vs. Bobcats).

BEST MOMENT: O’Quinn had a monster game on March 27 in Charlotte, scoring a career-best 23 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and handing out six assists. But because of the circumstances, the game in New York against the Knicks a week earlier likely was more special to him. With his family watching and playing where he and his dad used to go to games, O’Quinn registered the first double-double of his career by grabbing a career-best 14 rebounds to go with 12 points and four assists. Afterward, O’Quinn celebrated with triumphant performance with his family in the Madison Square Gardens stands.

OF NOTE: O’Quinn made tremendous progress as the season went along, contributing more over the final 40 games of the season. He led the team in rebounding four times and was tied for 14th among all rookies in rebounding despite playing just 11.2 minutes per game.

FUTURE ROLE WITH THE MAGIC: O’Quinn was one of the feel-good stories of the season for the Magic what with the way he played his way onto the roster with a strong showing in last year’s summer league. Then, he progressed throughout the season to the point that he became a fixture in coach Jacque Vaughn’s regular rotation. He also became a favorite of the coaching staff because of his willingness to mix it up in the paint and be especially physical when it came to rebounding and defending. O’Quinn still has some growing to do as far as totally understanding NBA defenses and rotations, but his gritty, workmanlike nature should help him continue to progress. Some wonder if he has the size to be an elite defender and his future might lie as a power forward. His ability to shoot the ball from midrange could allow him to play alongside of a center such as Nikola Vucevic or Glen ``Big Baby’’ Davis. This is a big summer for O’Quinn to continue making progress on his post game, his strength and his athleticism. It’s up to him to continue to improve and the Magic are banking that he will put in the work to ensure that he grows his game.

Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Magic and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.

 

 

 

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