Former Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson believes the Magic are trending in the right direction.
Last season, the Magic made the playoffs for the first time since 2012. For Orlando to take the next step and win a playoff series, Nelson says some guys on the team “have to step up.”
“They have a young, talented team,” Nelson told Josh Robbins of The Athletic. “With the East not being as strong as the West, they have an opportunity to make the playoffs, for sure. They need some guys to step up. They need Aaron Gordon to continue to fulfill his role the way he has done. They need Markelle (Fultz) to play when he’s ready to play. Jonathan Isaac has gotten better every year, and he just has to take another step. They’re depending on their young guys to carry that team. There are no real veterans that are going to carry that team other than (Nikola) Vucevic.”
Nikola Vucevic is the best player on the Magic. He averaged 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season while shooting 51.8 percent from the field.
The 28-year-old big man recorded 60 double-doubles, one triple-double and made his first All-Star team.
Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac have to play at an All-Star-caliber level next season for the Magic to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Everyone in the NBA is also curious to see if Markelle Fultz will play next year.
One thing is for sure: Jameer Nelson is rooting for Orlando to make some noise in 2019-20.
Follow Us
Subscribe