Elfrid Payton guides Mario Hezonja through his first All-Star Weekend
By Carson Ingle
While the Orlando Magic are one of the league’s youngest teams, they still have a strong support system. That unique chemistry shows itself best at All-Star Weekend.
The lack of of veterans to lead a young Orlando Magic team has been a hot topic of conversation recently. While the Magic roster might not be chock full of players with years of NBA experience, there is still a teaching and learning process that goes on between teammates.
That relationship becomes clearer than ever during NBA All-Star Weekend. Last year, it was second-year player Victor Oladipo following rookie Elfrid Payton side by side at the festivities in New York City.
Oladipo is still in Toronto supporting his teammates, and Aaron Gordon is along for the ride as well as a participant in the Slam Dunk Contest. However a new Magic duo will occupy the court at tonight’s BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge.
Payton is using the opportunity to impart his wisdom as a veteran of the game on first-year guard Mario Hezonja.
“I told him it’s going to be a lot people,” said Payton on his advice to Hezonja for tonight’s game. “He’s kind of a shy person at times until you get to know him. There are going to be a lot of people, but he’s going to have a lot of fun. Take it all in.”
The value of having familiar faces around is certainly not lost on Hezonja. The adjustments of playing in a new league and living in a new country have been significant, but even from early on in his Orlando tenure, he has always had his teammates to fall back on.
In addition to support, the camaraderie these Magic players feel with one another at this event is priceless.
“For me, since it’s my first year here, [it is] helpful definitely because they already went to it,” said Hezonja about having his teammates around. “We enjoy it together. We are great friends off the court too so we’re enjoying it.”
The bonds that can be strengthened during this All-Star period should not be taken lightly. Certainly, going through a shared experience can bring players closer together.
Payton and Hezonja are already a (surprisingly) pretty close pair. As Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel wrote, Payton and Hezonja grew close this summer as Payton showed Hezonja around town and got him started during Summer League.
That bond can be helpful with the young core of this Orlando roster here in Toronto. They can also use the time to look back and refuel.
“To be honest with you, we gave up so many games that we should win,” said Hezonja. “I know it happens when you’re a young team. I don’t know, lack of concentration, lack of focus, not knowing some things. We are learning. We win, we learn. We lose, we learn.”
Perhaps the lessons that have been gleaned this season will become more clear in the second half.
Last year, Oladipo was able to parlay a fantastic All-Star Weekend into a sizzling second-half that had many speculating he could have been in store to be playing in Sunday’s game.
While Oladipo ultimately did not reach that All-Star stratosphere, the short-term boost of confidence gained by spending time among the best players in the game in New York was a real thing.
It could have the same effect on any of the Magic players participating in the festivities this weekend.
“I think it came at a good time for us to reflect on the good things that we did this season and some of the things we can work on,” said Payton about the All-Star break. “We had a lot of close games so this is some time we can look back and reflect on that and try to move forward.”
The Magic will put that business of putting together a more consistent final few months on the back burner, at least for a couple days. With his experience last year, Payton understands savoring the moments at these events.
When Payton jokingly asked Hezonja at media availability how many shots he was planning to take tonight, the rookie half-seriously replied, “60.”
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While that number is a bit far out of reach, Payton readily admits Hezonja may steal the show with his skill set.
“He’s a great shooter and he’s very athletic,” said Payton. “If he gets out in transition, he can put on a show. It’s definitely a game where he can showcase his talents.”
The Rising Stars Challenge will pit Payton against Hezonja in the Team USA versus Team World format, but they said there is not an inter-locker room competition about who will put up the better numbers.
With a rise or fall in the standings not on the line in the game, it gives players a chance to showcase their skills and have fun.