Summer League

Josh Cohen

LAS VEGAS - Franz Wagner, selected eighth overall by the Magic in the 2021 NBA Draft, played in four of Orlando’s five summer league games in Las Vegas and averaged 8.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.2 steals.

There are not many players from this year’s draft more versatile than the 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward. He is truly a jack-of-all-trades player. Fundamentally sound with a high basketball IQ, he makes a big impact even when his stat line doesn’t glow.

Let’s break down what the soon-to-be 20-year-old did well and areas where he must still improve.

Several of Wagner’s baskets in Vegas came via cuts to the basket. As soon as he spotted a defenseless trail, he dashed to the hoop and finished with either a layup or a dunk. This was something he did a lot of in college at the University of Michigan as well.

Wagner always seemed to be in the right place at the right time on defense. He moved his feet well, contested shots on the perimeter, disrupted passing lanes, deflected away passes, and didn’t get bullied in the post. A switchable defender, Wagner is someone that guards the paint and perimeter equally well.

Even though he’s not blazing fast or incredibly explosive, Wagner runs the floor well. A few times after a teammate collected a rebound or steal, he sprinted down the court and was ahead of the defense. When the ball was in his hands in transition, he made quick, smart decisions.

One of the knocks on Wagner pre-draft was his erratic outside shooting in college. He shot just 32.5 percent from downtown in his two combined seasons with the Wolverines. In summer league, he only made two of his 13 attempts from beyond the arc. Obviously, that’s going to have to improve. Most believe it will because he has great shooting mechanics and isn’t afraid to let it fly from deep. Zipping by defenders in isolation is not something anyone expects him to do due to his lack of speed and explosiveness. But he’s very good at angling his body to get shots up over defenders.

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A Review of Franz Wagner at NBA Summer League

LAS VEGAS - Orlando Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley said over the weekend that giving more minutes to NBA hopefuls would be the primary agenda for Monday’s summer league finale against the Detroit Pistons.

That’s precisely what took place, as all who stepped on the court except Ignas Brazdeikis, recently signed by Orlando to a two-way contract, were doing some auditioning during the Magic’s 79-78 loss at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

One of those NBA aspirants is Hassani Gravett. No stranger to the Magic organization having played for their G League team in Lakeland during the 2019-20 season, the 6-foot-3 combo guard scored 19 points in his 19 minutes off the bench. Raised in Atlanta and a member of the University of South Carolina’s Final Four team in 2017, Gravett has a silky-smooth jumper, burst when he attacks the basket and some hops, which he demonstrated when he caught an alley-oop and dunked it with just under two minutes remaining in the game.

“Honestly, I just wanted to make sure I left everything out there. I know this was the last game,” he said. “It was very important. Honestly, I feel sometimes I get a little under looked. So, getting more minutes and being blessed with the opportunity I had, I’m very thankful for it and I was happy I was able to display myself the way I did.”

Another former Lakeland player making a strong impression was Tahjere McCall, a defensive ace who during Monday’s game took a charge, blocked a shot, and had a couple deflections. Just before summer league started, the 27-year-old inked a deal to play for Cairns Taipans of the NBL. He had a brief stint with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2018-19 season.

A fan favorite on social media throughout the week was Janis Timma, a 29-year-old whose draft rights belong to the Magic after they traded for him in 2015 from the Memphis Grizzlies. The 6-foot-7 Latvian forward, best known for his sweet shooting stroke from distance, knocked down three triples on Monday and made 10 throughout the competition.

A teammate of Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Evan Mobley at USC this past season, Tahj Eaddy served as the Magic’s floor general for a portion of the second half and finished with nine points.

“That was just the conversation we had in the locker room with them going away is that they’ve done everything we’ve asked,” Mosley said. “Part of becoming a professional whether it’s at this level, or if it’s overseas, or if it’s in the G League, it’s about the things that you do here that you can prove to people that you are capable of playing and being a professional on and off the court.”

Not playing for the Pistons was 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick Cade Cunningham, who in his three games during summer league averaged 18.7 points and shot 50 percent from 3-point range. Luka Garza led the Pistons on Monday with 21 points, while Saben Lee scored 19 and hit a short jumper with 39 seconds left that put Detroit up five. He left the door open for the Magic to tie the game on the final possession after missing one of his two free throws with 18 seconds remaining, but the Magic were unable to convert on a pair of 3-point attempts.

At the helm for the second straight game was Jesse Mermuys, recently named one of Mosley’s assistant coaches. It was in 2008 when Mermuys got his first NBA coaching gig. It was with the Nuggets in Denver where he worked side by side with Mosley, also an assistant under George Karl at the time.

Other coaches he has worked under in the NBA include Kevin McHale with the Rockets, Dwane Casey with the Toronto Raptors, and Luke Walton with the L.A. Lakers and Sacramento Kings.

All in all, it was a successful summer league for the Magic. Mosley got an opportunity to embed his coaching principles. Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner, the Magic’s two 2021 first round draft picks, got a taste of NBA speed and aggressiveness. Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton used the experience to stay fresh and get to know the new coaching staff.

Suggs, who didn’t play in the final two games after spraining his left thumb, plans to use the next few weeks before training camp starts to mentally prepare for the upcoming season. It was important, he says, to get familiar with the pace of the NBA game and bond with his new teammates.

“I came in (and) got to showcase my skills, showcase my abilities,” he said.

“Just to get (into a) rhythm, the pace, my body used to it. It’s different. Doing one-on-one workouts and being in shape and then being in shape five-on-five having to go up and down. Maybe three or four minutes at a time with no dead ball,” he added. “It was different. It was good, though. Just to get the rhythm. Play with guys. Get my feet under me and again just have fun playing five-on-five again.”

Happy about the progress he made throughout the week, Wagner feels this experience is going to pay dividends down the road.

“For me, just getting used to all the surroundings, the game style, my teammates, the new system, all of that,” he said. “It’s been almost half a year I think since I really played in a basketball game. Just getting back into game shape, getting used to when someone is closing out like that in game speed. I think it was really important for me having these couple games to kind of get used to all of that. I love getting better and improving and I think these couple games helped me do that.”

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Spotlight Was on NBA Hopefuls in Magic’s Final Summer League Game

LAS VEGAS - While a bummer we didn’t get to see Jalen Green and Jalen Suggs square off as originally planned, there was still plenty to keep our eyes on during Sunday’s NBA Summer League contest between the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Each side featured a few recent first round draft selections even with Green and Suggs, the respective No. 2 and No. 5 picks in last month’s draft, out due to minor injuries. For the Magic, Cole Anthony, chosen 15th a year ago, and Franz Wagner, the No. 8 pick this year, saw extensive playing time and helped Orlando roll to an 89-76 victory.

The 6-foot-3, 191-pound Anthony had his best performance of the competition thus far with 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Wagner, meanwhile, had a few strong finishes inside and drilled his one 3-point attempt as part of his 13-point night.

It was on the defensive end though where they and their teammates made the biggest impact. The Rockets shot just 33.3 percent from the field and 22 percent from 3-point range, largely because of the Magic’s defensive tenacity, communication, and execution.

“From our practice yesterday, we came here and we were like let’s just lock in defensively. Let’s do what we can on the defensive end and the offense is going to take care of itself,” Anthony said.

Jamahl Mosley, on the bench for Orlando’s first three games, took in Sunday’s action from the stands while sitting next to Markelle Fultz, one of two Magic players attending the game. The other was Mo Bamba, who practiced with the Magic’s summer league squad during the team’s mini training camp.

At the helm for Orlando instead was Jesse Mermuys, recently named one of Mosley’s assistant coaches. It was in 2008 when Mermuys got his first NBA coaching gig. It was with the Nuggets in Denver where he worked side by side with Mosley, also an assistant under George Karl at the time.

Even from his seat, Mosley noticed how much more in sync the team looked compared to the prior few games.

“They were really good defensively. We were active. We turned them over twenty-five times for thirty-one points,” he said. “I think just our ability (to use our) active hands, we showed a wall in transition trying to take away easy baskets. But the activity, communication and them flying around for one another was really good. They were tied together.”

A star in the Korean Basketball League with Wonju DB Promy last season, Yante Maten played a big role in the win. The 25-year-old originally from Pontiac, Michigan led Orlando with 18 points and nine rebounds and spurred a run that allowed the Magic to create some separation in the second half.

Houston was led by Josh Christopher, one of their four 2021 first round draft picks. Selected 24th overall, Christopher, a crafty scorer, tallied 22 points, although it was on an inefficient 7-for-19 shooting from the field. Alperen Sengun, the 16th pick known for his low-post finesse and nifty footwork on drives, registered 13 points and 10 rebounds and Usman Garuba, chosen 23rd, did what he does best and that’s play smothering defense.

The Magic outscored the Rockets in the first, third and fourth quarters. Both teams scored 26 in the second period.

To allocate more minutes to guys who didn't get many minutes in the first three games, Orlando opted to hold R.J. Hampton out.

With one game left, which will take place on Monday at 8 p.m. against the Detroit Pistons, expect to see even more of the reserves get extra playing time to showcase their skills.

“I think it’s really an opportunity for these guys that haven’t gotten a lot of minutes to play,” Mosley said. “To continue with the defensive effort. Being tough, being talkative and being tied together. I think we continue with that. Continue the foundation of what we’ve done. Giving opportunities to guys that may not have played major minutes. Giving them an opportunity to show what they can do.”

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Magic Beat Rockets in Summer League Action Behind Stifling Defense

LAS VEGAS - The remainder of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas will be a great opportunity for NBA front office personnel to get a better, more thorough look at players not currently under contract with an NBA team.

There are several on the Orlando Magic’s summer league roster that could draw interest. One of them is D.J. Hogg, a member of the Lakeland Magic’s 2021 G League championship squad. Best known for spacing the floor with his sweet shooting stroke, the 6-foot-9, 215-pounder out of Texas A&M has knocked down four of his seven 3-point attempts through three games.

Reuniting with a few of the others from that G League title team has made his summer league experience that much better.

“It was great. I loved my time with the Lakeland staff,” he said. “We had great players as well. Everybody was cool. It was very easy to get along (with everyone). We had a lot of team activities for what we could do with quarantine. You would do a lot of zoom calls. It gave me a chance to get to know everybody before coming here now in summer league. I’m a little more familiar with the faces and names. It makes everything a lot easier and a better experience.”

Another player looking to make a good impression is Shakur Juiston, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward who grew up in New Jersey. Back at the UNLV campus where he spent two of his college seasons at, he’s elated to play at the Thomas & Mack Center once again.

“It’s a breath of fresh air,” said Juiston, who wrapped up his college career at Oregon and last season spent some time in the G League with the Memphis Hustle. “I’ve been away for a minute. Coming back, it’s got the home court advantage type feel.”

Energy and defense are his forte, and he’s absorbing every piece of knowledge tossed his way from the Magic’s coaching staff.

“Great opportunity,” he said. “All the coaches don’t let anybody slack. They want the best out of you. They bring the best out of you. I feel being here around these coaches is going to help me push forward in my professional career. It’s a blessing to be around them.”

A sprained left thumb is going to keep point guard Jalen Suggs out for the remainder of summer league. But he still plans to be on the bench cheering on his summer league teammates and doing whatever he can to motivate them.

Although disappointed he won’t be able to be on the court with them, he’s excited to see them give it their all in these final two games.

“It’s a whole different level of hunger. That passion they come with when they are trying to provide for their families in this game of basketball,” said Suggs, who in his three summer league games averaged 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals. “I’m looking forward to continue having an impact on the bench using my voice, using my leadership. Just because I’m not on the court playing doesn’t mean I can’t impact and help these guys.”

A quality showing at summer league has proven before that it can really launch a player’s career. For instance, in 2019 when the event was last held, stellar performances by Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn catapulted them up the Miami Heat’s depth chart. Another player that flourished that week was Terence Davis, who left Las Vegas in 2019 with a contract from the Toronto Raptors.

Having provided instruction in past summer leagues, Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley has seen first-hand what this experience can do for young players. Getting them to learn proper habits and play a winning brand of basketball is the goal.

“I think it’s a great opportunity,” said Mosley. “We talked about it coming into summer league. Talking about guys learning the habits, getting the fundamentals down. Try to see the things that we are putting in place and how do they respond to it. With Jalen being out, how do other guys get their opportunity to do things that we’ve asked them to do.”

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Magic’s Less Proven Summer League Players Looking to Make Strong Impressions

LAS VEGAS - Jalen Suggs has been ruled out for the remainder of summer league after spraining his left thumb during Thursday’s game against the Boston Celtics. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder played just under 66 minutes over three games and averaged 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals.

Selected fifth overall by the Orlando Magic in last month’s draft, Suggs had an unsurprisingly impressive start to his NBA career. All the things he excelled at in his one season at Gonzaga, which with Suggs’ leadership made it all the way to the NCAA championship game, were on display in Las Vegas.

Let’s break down what the 20-year-old did well and where he must improve.

Suggs’ top strengths are his passing and game management. Some have compared him to Jason Kidd for that reason. Both in pick-and-roll and in the open floor, he makes excellent reads and decisions while surveying the court.

Using a nice blend of agility, craftiness, and ingenuity, the Saint Paul, Minnesota native routinely got into the paint and made sound choices. The Magic haven’t shot the ball well at summer league, so Suggs didn’t rack up a ton of assists. But many of the good looks Orlando got stemmed from his savviness and prudence.

Spotting open teammates on the perimeter after collapsing the defense on drives is something he’s elite at doing.

Suggs played on a stacked team at Gonzaga. For that reason, it wasn’t critical for him to always have a scorer’s mentality. Based on his approach at summer league, it appears he’s more than capable of taking over games if necessary.

Although he only shot 41.5 percent from the field, Suggs was able to show off some of his offensive creativity. Interesting about him is that he’s very unpredictable. It’s hard for defenders to guess whether he’s going to accelerate all the way to the basket, stop on a dime and attempt a pull-up jumper or create separation using his good footwork, ball handling and shiftiness.

Initiating contact on drives is something else he thrived at. He took nine free throws.

Deflections aren’t officially tallied in summer league, but just based on the eye test, it appeared Suggs had a lot of them. He has incredible instincts and anticipation. Several passes attempted by the Magic’s opponents didn’t reach the intended target because of Suggs’ peskiness and alertness.

What also stood out on the defensive end was Suggs’ timing, both when guarding the ball and when rising to block a shot. He had a huge block on Moses Moody in the win over the Warriors and a steal on Carsen Edwards against the Celtics just before injuring his left hand.

The Magic are unique in that all their young guards are good rebounders. Suggs, Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton and Markelle Fultz are unafraid to mix it up with the big boys in the paint. In Suggs’ case, he will use his supreme athleticism to fly in for rebounds.

As mentioned earlier, Suggs only shot 41.5 percent from the floor. Obviously, that’s not a good mark. He has a nice touch on his floater and good mechanics on his jumper, so it would be somewhat surprising if he wasn’t more efficient in his career. But it’s too early to tell whether he’s someone that can go on scoring tears. He made five of his 14 3-point attempts. Once again, his form is good, but does he have it in him to knock down shots from various ranges consistently?

Another thing that’s still a bit ambiguous and maybe misunderstood is Suggs’ blow-by speed. While a spectacular vertical athlete and electrifying in the open floor, he’s not necessarily someone that’s going to zip by every defender in his path. He relies more on shiftiness to elude and outfox opponents. But when he goes full force downhill, he’s tough to contain because of his excellent balance, body control, strength and coordination.

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A Review of Jalen Suggs at NBA Summer League

LAS VEGAS - Just past the midway point of the second quarter of Thursday’s summer league game against the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic rookie point guard Jalen Suggs ripped the ball away from Carsen Edwards, accelerated down the court, made a move toward the hoop and on the drive was fouled by Edwards.

Immediately after falling to the floor, Suggs started grabbing his left hand in obvious discomfort. He stayed in the game for a few more possessions, but eventually went back to the locker room for an examination.

When addressing the injury after the Magic’s 108-71 loss, Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley said the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder has a sore left hand and is still being evaluated. In his 11 minutes, Suggs scored six points, hauled down two rebounds and dished out one assist.

As advertised after Orlando made him the fifth overall pick in last month’s draft, Suggs has looked dazzling for stretches during summer league. He willed his team to a comeback victory over the Golden State Warriors in the opener and then filled up the stat sheet in the Magic’s second game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. On Thursday before the injury, he was ultra-aggressive getting to the basket and initiating contact.

Not much in general went right for the Magic against the Celtics. They fell behind by double digits in the first quarter and were never able to slow the C’s down, especially Payton Pritchard, who finished with 17 points, four rebounds and nine assists. Another standout for Boston was Sam Hauser, who has reportedly agreed to become one of the team’s two-way contract players. The undrafted 23-year-old tallied a game-high 21 points on 7-of-12 overall shooting and 6-of-10 3-point shooting.

The only Magic player who scored in double figures was Tahjere McCall, one of five members of the Lakeland Magic’s 2021 G League championship squad playing for the organization’s summer league team. Another player that got extensive playing time was Ignas Brazdeikis, the 6-foot-6 forward who signed a two-way deal with the Magic on Wednesday. He played 12 minutes and finished with four points.

“I just felt like it was a great opportunity and a great steppingstone for me and my career,” he said. “It’s a great organization. Great people. I loved finishing the season off with Orlando. Got the opportunity to play. Enjoyed every single moment of it and I just felt like it’s a great spot for me and my career.”

While it remains to be seen how he will be utilized by the Magic this upcoming season, Mosley is thrilled to have him on board. A physical, smart and unselfish player, Brazdeikis is someone that should fit in well with this young developing core.

“It’s those guys that are willing to play hard,” Mosley said. “He’s (a) ball mover, (has) basketball IQ, just trying to make the right play at times. And just trying to make his teammates better. He plays with pace. He plays with passion and just plays extremely hard and I think that is going to be extremely important for us moving forward.”

Mosley made the decision to rest the team’s starters after halftime, which included Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton and Franz Wagner. Anthony, who scored five points, likes the direction of this team even though they’ve struggled with their shooting in the early portion of summer league.

“I’m not in game form. I’m not in tip top form yet,” he said. “I haven’t played a five-on-five basketball game in three months. I haven’t had access to it. I’ve been individually working out. I’m all on top of that. In terms of five-on-five basketball, I’m getting back into rhythm. I think we are definitely building that chemistry, especially me, Franz, Jalen. Me and R.J. already had a little chemistry from last year. The more we get to play together, the more we get to know each other, the easier it’s going to become.”

The Magic will be back in action on Sunday when they take on the Houston Rockets at 8 p.m. ET.

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Sore Left Hand Limits Jalen Suggs’ Minutes in Magic’s Loss to Celtics

LAS VEGAS - Until about six or seven years ago, the word “versatility” was rarely mentioned in NBA lingo. Not to suggest players before then weren’t skilled in multiple areas because some certainly were, but it was less transparent than it is in this present era.

The way the league is veering, it’s now almost essential for players to excel at more than one thing. If they don’t have different layers to their games, opponents can find ways to run them off the floor. We’ve been seeing that time and time again the last few years, especially in the playoffs when coaches have ample time to adjust.

It’s why Franz Wagner, the Orlando Magic’s eighth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has a chance to make a big impact in this league. Dubbed a basketball unicorn by many, the 6-foot-9, 220-pounder can be plugged into just about every role and keep opponents guessing.

That versatility was on display during the Magic’s 94-84 summer league loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Wagner did a little bit of everything during his 22 minutes of action that ended with him scoring 10 points, grabbing three rebounds, dishing out one assist and collecting one steal. Not once but twice, he snuck baseline with no defender in sight to finish at the hoop. He had a few open looks from 3-point land, one of which he knocked down, that stemmed from good spacing. A couple times he pushed the ball in transition, an underrated strength of his. On the other end of the floor, he did a terrific job guarding the 7-foot, 215-pound Evan Mobley, who was held to 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting.

Impressed with Wagner’s talent, work ethic and basketball IQ, teammates believe the future is bright for the Berlin, Germany native.

“He’s extremely versatile,” said fellow rookie Jalen Suggs, who recorded 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists in Wednesday’s contest, all team highs.  “Even more than that, he’s a smart player. He’s got great IQ. He knows when to cut. He knows when to space. He’s a tough guy. You’re not going to bully ball him on the offensive or defensive end. He’s a great player. The more we get to playing. The more we practice together, our chemistry will get even better. I think he has a ton of potential.”

Largely because of Wagner’s contributions on both ends, the Magic held a six-point first-quarter lead before the Cavs seized momentum. Early on, he and Suggs, another versatile player, connected on the offensive side. Good things tend to happen when the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Suggs gets into the paint, which he’s done quite frequently over his first two games in Vegas.

The issue Orlando had, especially in the third quarter when they were outscored by 12, was finishing drives. They shot 39 percent overall, obviously a mark that’s not going to lead to many wins.

The Cavs feature two of the best defenders playing at this year’s summer league in Mobley and Isaac Okoro, last year’s fifth overall pick, and they did an excellent job challenging shots inside and jumping the passing lanes.

Speaking of Mobley, arguably the most versatile player chosen in the 2021 draft, Suggs has been impressed with what he’s seen from him and believes he will be a force in this league for many years.

“He was great tonight,” Suggs said of Cleveland’s No. 3 overall pick. “His athleticism. He’s so big in the paint. It makes it hard. I think he did a great job of stepping out and knocking down shots.”

“Defensively, he’s a monster,” he added. “That’s someone when you see in the paint, sometimes you think twice about going inside and laying it up. He’s so versatile. He’s a quiet guy, but not to let that fool you, on the court he gets down. Extremely proud of him. Can’t wait to see what he does this year.”

Okoro, who averaged 9.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in his rookie campaign, led the Cavs on Wednesday with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Trevon Bluiett scored 14 and Lamar Stevens chipped in with 13.

The one other Magic player besides Suggs and Wagner to score in double figures was D.J. Hogg, a member of the Lakeland Magic’s 2021 G League championship squad. The 24-year-old who hails from Columbus, Ohio and played collegiately at Texas A&M recorded 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

The Magic are back in action on Thursday when they take on the Boston Celtics at 7 p.m. ET. The Cavs next play on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans at 6 p.m. ET.

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Franz Wagner Shows Off Versatility in Magic’s Summer League Game Against Cavs

LAS VEGAS - Those who have played a team sport before at any level know based on their own experience just how critical team chemistry is. One of the main reasons it usually takes a few years before superstar players in the NBA win their first championship is because building chemistry with a supporting cast requires time and patience.

For a team like the Orlando Magic, who are in the embryonic stages of a rebuild, learning about which players mesh and what it will take for the young core to thrive together is a daily focus. We are seeing that play out in Las Vegas at NBA Summer League, particularly with the Magic’s three dynamic young guards. Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton are in the process of learning each other’s skills and figuring out what it takes to flourish as a unit.

There is one branch of the Magic’s summer league squad that already has built championship-level chemistry. It’s between the five guys who together helped the Lakeland Magic capture the 2021 G League title.

Center Jon Teske, forwards D.J. Hogg and Justin Jackson and guards Jeff Dowtin and Tahjere McCall have reunited in Vegas with the Magic just a few months since taking part in that unforgettable championship journey at Walt Disney World.

Their bond is both special and noticeable. It’s a boost, Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley says, to have a portion of the group who not only are already familiar with one another but also share something that the others on the team can get inspired by.

“That’s where the energy comes from,” Mosley said. “A lot of these guys are just fitting right into that because they also understand what it takes to win. It’s not just about the result at the end of the game. It’s about the daily habits. You see why the energy is so high here because they understand the habits that it takes to get into winning basketball.”

Lakeland’s championship run culminated last spring with a blowout victory over the Delaware Blue Coats in the Finals. Teske, the starting center that night just like he was in the Magic’s summer league opener against the Golden State Warriors, cherishes that entire G League experience. It helped him grow as a player and he’s using that success as a source of motivation.

At 7-foot-1, 265 pounds with a soft touch inside and a developing 3-point shot, the former University of Michigan standout is looking to show NBA front office personnel that he belongs in the NBA.

“Show the coaches what I’m capable of, how I can play, how I’ve improved in the offseason,” he said. “I just have to go out there and do my job and help the team win in any way I can.”

The same applies for the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Dowtin, a savvy, crafty and versatile point guard who scored nine points and dished out three assists in Monday’s win over the Warriors. He, too, has some added confidence stemming from that G League championship run.

It brings a wide smile to his face whenever he reflects on that experience, which taught him all about perseverance. Let’s remember, Lakeland didn’t start off so hot. They were 4-5 at one point and lost two straight games by double digits before turning around their season with five victories in their last six regular season games to advance to the playoffs.

That mindset has carried over to summer league and it showed in the opener against the Warriors when the Magic rallied from a second-half double-digit deficit.

“You can just see the way we play together, the way we are jelling,” said Dowtin, who played his college ball at Rhode Island. “We have chemistry. We’ve been together for a year now. It’s just been great and that flows on the court.”

Key to Lakeland’s success ever since the team relocated to Polk County in 2017 has been the commitment from the DeVos family, Magic CEO Alex Martins, minority owner Steve Demetriou, Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and General Manager John Hammond, all of whom have been instrumental in creating a winning culture in Lakeland.

The two main architects of Lakeland’s roster, General Manager Anthony Parker and Assistant GM Tunji Adedipe, have done an amazing job bringing in players who are not only talented but also driven by team success, which Lakeland has had a lot of.

In their inaugural 2017-18 season, they reached the postseason. The following year, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Before the G League’s 2019-20 season had to be canceled a little after the midway point because of the pandemic, they were in position to make another deep playoff run. And most recently, after entering the 2021 postseason as the No. 6 seed, Lakeland captured the franchise’s first championship.

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Together Again, Members of Lakeland Magic’s 2021 Championship Squad Share Special Bond

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Due to Tropical Storm Nicole, the NBA has announced that the Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic game on Wednesday, November 9 will tip-off at 5:30 PM. Amway Center doors open at 4:30 PM.