Jalen Suggs took advantage of his latest media intervention to praise the contribution and experience of the former Magic glories. “That’s what we’re looking for as a franchise, to get back to the greatness that they were able to achieve.”, did he slip about these elders. Among the advice that the fullback will be able to collect from the elders, he will find in Nick Anderson this rage to win which was his strength when he was a player.
Iconic Orlando fullback in the 90s, Nick Anderson continues to follow the exploits of his team at heart. The one who was nicknamed “Nick The Brick” for his four missed shots in the money-time of Game 1 of the 1994 NBA Finals against Houston, believes in particular that the Floridians have what it takes to do something this year, notably with the Wagner brothers, Paolo Banchero, Markelle Fultz and a good handful of young players with high potential, including Jalen Suggs.
For Nick Anderson, Jamahl Mosley’s group is at the level in terms of pure quality. Now it remains to make the most of it and touch wood so that injuries do not weaken everything.
“I expect big things, really”, he said during the event organized by the franchise to unveil the team’s new jersey. “From a talent standpoint, I think we’re on par, across the board. I don’t care what team you’re talking about. When you look at the talent on this team…I think we’re up to the task in every way.”
All the ingredients are present…
To its credit, we can indeed point out that the arrival of Jamahl Mosley in 2021 allowed the Magic to start on a new “process” and to create a little enthusiasm among the local fanbase, who only attended two series of playoffs over the last ten years, at the end of the Fournier-Vucevic era (2019-2020).
With a new coach, a new playing identity, in which defense has its place, and young players to develop, Nick Anderson can only be satisfied with the turn of events.
” We are young. I think we’re exciting to see. The players already have quite a few matches under their belt, they may not have reached the playoffs yet, but there is a good staff with people who are good teachers”he added, even if having the third youngest roster in the league should not constitute a brake on the development of the team. “We must not use youth as an excuse. There is no limit to the use of this excuse.”
Like other teams in the East, there is not much missing for the Magic to claim to return to the playoffs. For Nick Anderson, the injury factor will also be taken into account. Because if Orlando has a competitive workforce, its bench depth is perhaps not as deep as that of the competition.
“People might not say it, but personally, I expect big things. But you will have to stay in good health for that. You know you’re going to have physical glitches and bruises somewhere along the way. If this team stays healthy, they could cause problems”concluded Nick Anderson.
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Paolo Banchero | 72 | 33.7 | 42.7 | 29.8 | 73.8 | 1.2 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 20.0 |
| Franz Wagner | 80 | 32.6 | 48.5 | 36.1 | 84.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 18.6 |
| Wendell Carter, Jr. | 57 | 29.6 | 52.5 | 35.6 | 73.8 | 2.1 | 6.6 | 8.7 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 15.2 |
| Markelle Fultz | 60 | 29.6 | 51.4 | 31.0 | 78.3 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 14.0 |
| Cole Anthony | 60 | 25.9 | 45.4 | 36.4 | 89.4 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 13.0 |
| Moe Wagner | 57 | 19.5 | 50.0 | 31.3 | 84.1 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 10.5 |
| Jalen Suggs | 53 | 23.5 | 41.9 | 32.7 | 72.3 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 9.9 |
| Bowl Bowl | 70 | 21.5 | 54.6 | 26.5 | 75.9 | 1.0 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 9.1 |
| Gary Harris | 48 | 24.7 | 45.0 | 43.1 | 90.0 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 8.3 |
| Terrence Ross | 42 | 22.5 | 43.1 | 38.1 | 75.0 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 8.0 |
| Mohamed Bamba | 40 | 17.0 | 49.5 | 39.8 | 68.6 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 7.3 |
| Jay Scrubb | 2 | 15.1 | 71.4 | 100.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 6.5 |
| Goga Bitadze | 17 | 15.0 | 57.5 | 16.7 | 66.7 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 5.8 |
| Rj Hampton | 26 | 13.9 | 43.9 | 34.0 | 83.8 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 5.7 |
| Jonathan Isaac | 11 | 11.3 | 41.5 | 40.0 | 55.6 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 5.0 |
| Chuma Okeke | 27 | 19.2 | 35.2 | 30.2 | 76.2 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 4.7 |
| Michael Carter-williams | 4 | 11.1 | 42.9 | 33.3 | 57.1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 4.3 |
| Admiral Schofield | 37 | 12.2 | 45.1 | 32.4 | 91.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 4.2 |
| Kevin Harris | 34 | 13.4 | 43.9 | 37.2 | 75.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 4.1 |
| Caleb Houstan | 51 | 15.9 | 36.3 | 33.8 | 83.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.8 |
