It is Summer League time, and all eyes are on the new faces of the NBA. Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren, Houston's Jabari Smith Jr., and, of course, No. 1 pick Orlando Magic stud Paolo Banchero.
The Magic are currently 2-1 and undefeated when Banchero plays. While this is still Summer League, some fans have already jumped to conclusions about what it means for their future. Whether they are on the good or the bad side, they are still creating discussions in the Magic community and giving some extra attention to the players on the summer roster.
Here are some overreactions from Magic fans following the team's first three games in Las Vegas.
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Biggest Orlando Magic Summer League Overreactions
Paolo Banchero is a star and should be great right away
We have seen players shine in their Summer Leagues and struggle in the NBA, and we have seen the other way around. Five or six games should not determine a player's future, or in Banchero's case, only two.
The Magic shut the No. 1 pick down after the team's second game in Las Vegas. Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley said via the Orlando Sentinel they were already able to see what Banchero is capable of doing after those games, so it was time to give others an opportunity.
The former Duke Blue Devil averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds in two wins, but also had a total of 10 turnovers in that span. Although some of these numbers are impressive, Banchero and the Magic were facing mostly players who have yet to play in a regular season NBA game, and some had never played professionally in their lives.
In this Summer League, all eyes were on Banchero, and the rookie did look like the first pick, but fans will still have to see what he can do against the best players in the league.
R.J. Hampton is a disappointment
If Banchero is getting praise, R.J. Hampton is on the opposite side of the spectrum.
In two games, Hampton is averaging 12.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, shooting 40% from the field, 66.7% from the free-throw line while missing all his 3-point attempts.
In the Orlando Magic's Reddit page, fans are saying he should be cut and give his minutes to rookie Caleb Houstan. They also said Hampton has been careless with the ball and is taking many bad decisions on the court, leading mostly to bad shots.
While his numbers may not seem impressive, Hampton is only 21 years old and is only entering his third season in the league. Some players take years to be fully developed and perform at their highest levels. For example, Julius Randle won Most Improved Player and was named an All-Star and All-NBA Second Team in his seventh season in the league and third team.
Hampton is still in the early years of his career, and he is behind Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs in the rotation, also players in their early years in the NBA. He just might need some time, whether it's on the court or at the practice gym, to still develop his game, or perhaps a more veteran guard to mentor his development in a Magic locker room full of youngsters.
Overall, while some outplay their opponents while some do not perform as expected, it is still a short span of games to determine what someone can do for 10-plus years, but for a team that has struggled this past decade, some summer excitement for a rookie is more than welcome.
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