Although less highlighted than his new friend in the racket, the rookie Paolo Banchero, or than Franz Wagner and the backs Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr. nevertheless remains an absolutely central element of the reconstruction of the Magic.
Main exchange currency, for the Orlando club, in the transfer of Nikola Vucevic to Chicago in the middle of the 2020/21 season, the 23-year-old pivot has calmly continued his progress in Florida for almost a year and a half.
Despite his young age, he is already attacking his fifth pro season, the second complete in Orlando where he is a young veteran in this squad that looks like a training center. And if the Magic will first ensure the development of its young shoots, Wendell Carter Jr. does not intend to be complacent.
Live with the times to improve the Magic
Indeed, at the top of his list of goals is the desire to become the Magic’s all-around pivot, capable of doing anything. In order to follow the evolution of his position, whose metamorphosis has been underway for ten years, but also to serve a larger cause: the collective.
” I’ve watched the other teams in the league, and the best of them play selfless basketball. It’s a feeling I want to install in my team, because we have great players » so declared “WCJ”, who draws inspiration from the cream of the crop on his post: Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. ” I am inspired by their ability to play at a slow pace, while being able to do certain readings, or contribute in various ways, whether it is passing, rebounding, and of course scoring points. Concretely, they do things usually reserved for full-backs and wingers. They are everywhere for their team. »
It now remains to walk the talk, especially in a Magic workforce that lacks shooters. But the progression over the past few months is clearly notable, as he went from averaging 10.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 119 games with the Bulls, to 14.2 points, 10 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 84 games with the Magic. .
An increase in statistical production which is of course partly explained by the fact that he had fewer responsibilities in Illinois, but which all the same suggests a margin of progress for the future.
” His versatility is phenomenal even judged his coach Jamahl Mosley. ” It can change on the screens, on all workstations. He can also create, whether with the leather in his hands or through a screen. There are several ways for him to influence the game of our team. »
