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LAS VEGAS –&nbsp;The 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League opens up on Thursday night with just one game on the docket.&nbsp;

All eyes will be on No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic as they tip off the summer league slate in Las Vegas against No. 3 overall selection Jabari Smith Jr. and his Houston Rockets at the Thomas &amp; Mack Center at 10 p.m. ET.&nbsp;

The Magic arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday evening and hosted their first practice session in the entertainment capital of the world on Wednesday morning as they continue to gear up for game action. While fans and media will certainly be looking at boxscores and statlines, for Orlando it’s all about execution and seeing if what they’re implementing in practice translates to a game setting.&nbsp;

“It’s definitely more about us and game planning would be, again, are we playing team defense (and) are we sticking to our principles that (head coach Jamahl Mosley) wants,” said Magic summer league head coach Jesse Mermuys. “Are we sharing the basketball (and) are we playing with pace? So, it is more about us, but all of us as organizations have a style of play, and we know Houston, of course they’re going to have new personnel out there, but we have a pretty good idea of what they’re trying to accomplish and what their fundamental core principles are. So, we’ll prepare the guys, but it’s going to be more about us.”&nbsp;

The contest will mark the first opportunity for fans to see Banchero in a Magic uniform. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward has shown flashes during Orlando’s summer league practices of his dynamic scoring, playingmaking and defensive versatility that made him the first overall selection. &nbsp;

“(I) just (want to showcase) my versatility and ability to affect winning for the team,” said Banchero of the opening matchup. “We’re going to come out and play hard as a team and I just want to be a big part of that.”&nbsp;

While some rookies could be overwhelmed by the pressure that comes along with being the top pick in the league’s standalone game to open the summer session in Vegas, Banchero welcomes the opportunity to showcase his talent in front of a crowd.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It’s great. I get to come out here and have all these people come watch me put on a show,” said Banchero. “I love when big crowds are out, all the cameras are out, that’s when I play my best. I’m looking forward to it and it’s going to be fun.”&nbsp;

After all, it’s hard to top the pressure of being a star college recruit at Duke and being expected to attain great success both as a player and a program in legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s highly publicized final season.&nbsp;

“Paolo is probably one of the most prepared individuals for (this) situation that’s ever come along in the NBA,” said Mermuys. “His season at Duke, I don’t know if it gets much more pressure than that. He’s already prepared. You can tell the way he is as a kid. His parents have done a great job with him because he’s very low-key. He seems very even-keeled. I think he’s more than prepared for that.”&nbsp;

In addition to Banchero, there will be a&nbsp;number of storylines&nbsp;to keep an eye on during Thursday night’s action. &nbsp;

Magic second round selection, Caleb Houstan, will also be making his team debut. The No. 32 overall pick from the University of Michigan possesses all the tools to be a 3-and-D player at the NBA level.&nbsp;

R.J. Hampton, who volunteered to play in summer league, will also look to showcase his development both as an individual player and as a playmaker for others. &nbsp;

“It’ll be a lot of fun,” said Hampton, who along with Mermuys will be mic’d up for the ESPN broadcast on Thursday night. “Just looking forward to playing with the guys and having a lot of fun.”&nbsp;

Devin Cannady, Admiral Schofield, and Aleem Ford all took the floor for Orlando at various times last season and will continue to work on their development this summer.&nbsp;

Other Magic players such as Chuma Okeke and Jalen Suggs have already arrived in Las Vegas to show their support for their teammates and take in some game action. Additional members of the squad, including Wendell Carter Jr., are expected to join them.

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Orlando Magic Arrive in Las Vegas and Get Set for Summer League Opener Against Houston Rockets 

Paolo Banchero spoke to the media after the Orlando Magic's practice session in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

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Summer League Practice: Paolo Banchero (7/6)

Magic Summer League Head Coach Jesse Mermuys spoke to the media after Orlando's practice session in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

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Summer League Practice: Jesse Mermuys (7/6)

R.J. Hampton spoke to the media after the Orlando Magic's practice session in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

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Summer League Practice: R.J. Hampton (7/6)

ORLANDO –&nbsp;Wendell Carter Jr.’s confidence is at an all-time high.&nbsp;

And with good reason. The 6-foot-10, 270-pound Orlando Magic big man is coming off his best season in the NBA where he averaged career highs in points (15.0), rebounds (10.5), and assists (2.8) per game, while shooting 52.5 percent from the floor and making more 3-pointers (70) in 62-games played than he had in the rest of his league tenure combined.&nbsp;

However, that confidence is not only limited to a belief in himself and what he can accomplish this upcoming season, but it also permeates to a strong conviction that the Magic can make tremendous strides in the very near future.&nbsp;

At the center of that belief is optimism surrounding what the Magic are building on and off the court. Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley has helped instill a culture of players celebrating each other’s success and assisting in each other’s growth.&nbsp;

Recently, that tenet has manifested in acts like R.J. Hampton volunteering to play in Summer League and other players such as Chuma Okeke, Terrence Ross and Carter periodically coming through those summer league practice sessions to offer guidance and support to their teammates. &nbsp;

Eager to build chemistry with his newest frontcourt mate Paolo Banchero – who also happens to be a fellow Duke alum – Carter not only came by to observe, but also get on the floor with the 2022 NBA Draft’s No. 1 overall pick. And after their time on the court together, Carter is even more convinced that a frontline of Banchero, 2021 NBA All-Rookie first teamer Franz Wagner, and himself have the chance to be an extremely formidable group.&nbsp;

“That (group) can be very special,” Carter explained. “Even just me running up and down with Paolo today, he’s a very unselfish player. He plays to win, and he plays the right way. I think just him going to Duke, I feel like that definitely helped a lot with just learning how to win. They win over there at Duke, so he understands what it takes and I’m here to just help him get better and help him tap into that potential that we all see in him.”&nbsp;

Banchero, Carter, and Wagner are all at least 6-foot-10 and possess a blend of scoring, playmaking, and defensive versatility that can help create matchup problems for the opposition. With the roster makeup that surrounds them, they certainly have the potential to be a special defensive group, which was a key component of each team that made the conference finals this past season. That’s something that’s been at the front of Carter’s mind as he’s approached this offseason.&nbsp;

“For myself, defensively being able to guard one through five,” said Carter, whose team had the league’s best defensive rating from the All-Star break until March 25. “Getting in better shape. And building off my confidence that I started to tap into at the end of the season. Those last thirty games, I felt like I definitely tapped into a different side of myself. Just building off of that and just continue to go up from there. Helping my team.”&nbsp;

Despite the enormous potential for the group, Carter is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead for the Magic’s rookie. He recalls the difficulties of his first summer league, being a lottery pick, and the whirlwind experience that surrounded it. &nbsp;

“It’s difficult. That transition from college to the NBA is a monster,” he explained. “You’re used to one thing at college, then, learning new terminology, getting in better shape, getting stronger to be able to play against bigger guys and things like that is always a challenge. So, my first time in summer league was definitely a challenge for me, but all competitors love that kind of stuff. Even though it was hard, I had a lot of fun.”&nbsp;

As mentioned, Carter believes that Banchero’s experience at Duke will aid him in his transition to the pros. After all, it’s hard to imagine any pressure being greater than coming into college as a top-tier recruit at a historic basketball program and being expected to live up to attain great success both as a player and a team in a legendary coach’s highly publicized final season.&nbsp;

“The pressure of just playing for Duke is already out of this world, but then it being (coach Mike Krzyzewski) last year, I can only imagine the pressure they had on them, especially the last game they had at Cameron (Indoor Stadium),” Carter said. “Just the nerves and all that. Coach K is a legend. He’ll always be a legend and he’ll always be remembered for being one of the winningest coaches in basketball. So, it was tough for him, I’m sure. It was tough on the whole team, I’m assuming. That’s the beauty of the game. You get that pressure, but you put the time in when the lights are off and nobody is here, so when you go out there and have all the pressure on you, you’re calm and collected.”&nbsp;

In addition to stopping by the AdventHealth practice court at Amway Center, Carter is also planning on heading out to Las Vegas to support his teammates and be a spectator for one or two of their games. He’s looking forward to seeing the first action for Magic rookies Banchero and Caleb Houstan as well as the growth of the players he’s taken the court with previously like Hampton, Devin Cannady, Admiral Schofield, and Aleem Ford.&nbsp;

Along with their development, it’ll be a big summer for all of the Magic’s young core that features seven lottery selections under the age of 25, including Banchero, Markelle Fultz (first overall - 2017), Jalen Suggs (fifth overall - 2021), Jonathan Isaac (sixth overall - 2017), Mo Bamba (sixth overall – 2018), Carter (seventh overall - 2018), and Wagner (eighth overall - 2021) to go along with other promising young pieces such as Cole Anthony, Hampton, and Okeke.&nbsp;

“As a team, our potential is through the roof,” Carter said. “With the first pick, we got Paolo and I think he’s going to help us tremendously immediately. With another year for all the young guys on our team under their belts, they’re going to come back better. I think the biggest thing for us is going to be being injury free. Taking care of our bodies a little bit better to make sure we’re able to be able to play all eighty-two of these things. That will give us the best chance to be very special this year.”

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Wendell Carter Jr. Believes Orlando Magic’s Young Frontcourt Can Be “Very Special”

Duke and Auburn didn’t play each other this past season, so we didn’t get a chance to see Banchero and Jabari Smith Jr. – the No. 1 and No. 3 overall picks, respectively, in the 2022 NBA Draft – square off in the college ranks. The last time they met on the hardwood was in the summer of 2020, before their senior high school seasons, in the Pangos All-American Festival Championship Game. For the first time as pros, they will clash on Thursday, July 7 in the opener of the 2022 NBA 2K23 Summer League in Las Vegas. At 6-foot-10, 250 pounds, Banchero has all the tools to become a special NBA player. He’s extremely versatile and possesses a unique blend of power and finesse for someone his size. Not only can he create shots for himself, but he's an advanced playmaker who makes the game easier for his teammates. Caleb Houstan, the Magic’s 32nd&nbsp;overall pick in the 2022 draft, will also be making his professional debut at summer league.&nbsp;

Suiting up for the Magic at summer league from last season’s team are guards R.J. Hampton and Devin Cannady and forwards Admiral Schofield and Aleem Ford. Hampton, acquired by Orlando along with Gary Harris and a future first round draft pick in a March 2021 trade that sent Aaron Gordon to Denver, played in 64 total games this past season. He started in 13 of Orlando’s last 18 contests and scored a career-high 21 points in the season finale against the Miami Heat. Two focus areas for him in Vegas will be decision making and defensive intensity. Cannady, meanwhile, has bounced back and forth between Orlando and Lakeland the last two seasons. Key for him is knocking down his open 3-point shots. That’s what the Magic need from him considering they ranked 27th&nbsp;and 28th&nbsp;in 3-point percentage each of the last two seasons. Long-distance shot-making is also critical for both Schofield and Ford. The 6-foot-5, 241-pound Schofield signed a two-way contract with the Magic in early January, while the 6-foot-8, 220-pound Ford appeared in five games with Orlando in December when they were shorthanded with several players in health and safety protocols.&nbsp;

If you haven’t seen it yet, prepare to be quite entertained watching Simpson play at summer league. Not sure how much Kareem Abdul-Jabbar he studied growing up, but the 6-foot-0 Simpson has a righty skyhook in his arsenal that is not only unique but highly effective as well. He took 14 of them after getting called up to the OKC Thunder from their G League team last season. Even Dwight Howard, one of the league’s all-time best shot blockers, seemed unsure how to contest it (watch below). Simpson played with each of the Wagner brothers at the University of Michigan. He and Moe helped lead the Wolverines to the national final in his sophomore season.&nbsp;

Besides Hampton, there are two others who will be playing for the Magic’s summer league team for a second straight year. One of them is Jaire Grayer, the son of former NBA player Jeff Grayer. He was in Lakeland this past season, where he appeared in 24 games and averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists.&nbsp;The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder played four seasons at George Mason before transferring to TCU to conclude his college career. A streaky shooter, pesky defender and excellent rebounder for a guard, Grayer averaged 10.2 points and 5.1 boards at the college level.&nbsp;The other returnee is Jeremiah Tilmon, also a Lakeland player in 2021-22. In 31 games with the Magic’s G League squad, he averaged 10.1 points and 5.2 rebounds. Although he didn’t end up getting drafted in 2021, his play at Missouri during his senior season caught the attention of scouts. He averaged 12.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks that year while helping the Tigers advance to the NCAA Tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Jan. 27, 2021, with his N.C. State Wolfpack hosting the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Devon Daniels was having one of his best college performances. Through 29 minutes of action, he had scored 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. But right around the nine-minute mark of the second half, he fell to the ground with a leg injury and had to be helped off the court back to the locker room. The very next day, an MRI revealed that he had torn his ACL. Now a year-and-a-half later, the 6-foot-5 swingman is at full strength and ready to prove he belongs in the NBA. Before the injury, many mock drafts had him being selected in the second round. Not only an aggressive offensive player, but he’s also a tenacious defender who averaged 1.7 steals in each of his last two college seasons.&nbsp;

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5 Interesting Orlando Magic Summer League Storylines

ORLANDO – “Be physical.” “Communicate.” “Pressure the ball.” 

Those are a few of the phrases that continuously echo through the AdventHealth practice court at Amway Center as the Orlando Magic conduct their summer league practices. 

For rookie Paolo Banchero, selected first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, it’s his first exposure to a number of the key principles that form the Magic’s identity. Team tenets, defensive priorities, coverages, offensive positioning, and terminology have all been part of Orlando’s summer league crash course over the last 24 hours and two drill sessions.&nbsp;

“We get them to understand the foundation that we’re building first, so that they understand the concepts, they understand the terminology, the things that we’re trying to accomplish from the ground floor,” said Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley. “As we progress forward, we’ll play two-minute games and three-minute games.”&nbsp;

Even in drill sessions, it’s clear that Banchero has a number of tools that the team covets. The 6-foot-10 forward possesses a unique&nbsp;blend of craftiness, fluidity, power, and vision that make him an absolute force on the offensive end of the floor.&nbsp;On the defensive side, his size and skill allow him to be another versatile piece at Mosley’s disposal.&nbsp;

Through two days of practice sessions – mostly centered around offensive and defensive installations – Banchero has flashed those elements along with a high desire to learn.&nbsp;

“The one that I’m observing more is his willingness and understanding of the game,” said Mosley. “He’s obviously a fantastic teammate, pushing guys, (and) trying to learn the ins and outs of NBA system, calls. A lot is coming at him, and he’s done a great job of embracing it. He’s not afraid to ask questions. Just continuing to learn and being willing to learn.”&nbsp;

Magic coaches and experienced players like R.J. Hampton and Devin Cannady have continuously been in his ear as the Duke alum attempts to soak up every bit of knowledge before the squad heads out to Las Vegas. As he did last year, their head coach has worked with him one-on-one – along with other players – continuing in his hands-on approach that made such an impact on Orlando’s young core last season.&nbsp;

“Coach Mose is able to get on the floor a lot more and demonstrate things than Coach K was,” Banchero joked when asked to compare Mosley and former legendary Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski. “They’re both great teachers.”&nbsp;

Through a few sessions of working with Banchero in the post, Mosley has felt firsthand the physical tools that Banchero has in his arsenal. And he’s trying to get him to use his power and strength even more as the rookie gets set to take the NBA stage for the first time in summer league action on July 7 in Las Vegas. 

“He’s a very strong individual,” the Magic’s head coach marveled. “I don’t even think he understands how strong he really is. That’s the great part about his willingness to learn and ask questions. He’s going to find out how he can use his body in different ways to obviously punish defenses, but then defensively, how he can guard multiple positions.”&nbsp;

It’s been a whirlwind for the fourth first overall pick in franchise history. From hearing his name called on draft night to walking into the gym for the first time, he’s been taken aback by the experience.&nbsp;

“Walking from (the hallway) into the gym, I told myself that I felt like I was on 2K a little bit, walking into the gym on my-player mode,” said Banchero.&nbsp;

While it’s clear that he’s still trying to digest all the play calls, positioning, and terminology that will be asked of him, he’s clearly already got a sense of what’s important to his head coach and new organization.&nbsp;

“I think I’ll fit in great,” said Banchero of his new team. “We’re going to be a real good defensive team, we’re going to play hard, we’re going to do a lot of the little things right. I think I’m going to fit in well. I’m going to be able to play all over the floor, defend all over the floor, and just mesh with these guys.”&nbsp;

Sounds like he's picking up on the Magic's foundational principles just fine.

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First Overall Pick Paolo Banchero Gets First Exposure to Orlando Magic’s Foundational Principles 

Paolo Banchero spoke to the media after the Orlando Magic's summer league practice session on Sunday.

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Summer League Practice: Paolo Banchero (7/3)

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