Orlando Magic Daily
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Top 5 NBA Jam duos for the 2018 Orlando Magic

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 16: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic goes to the basket against the Charlotte Hornets on December 16, 2015 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 16: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic goes to the basket against the Charlotte Hornets on December 16, 2015 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 8: Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Chicago Bulls on March 8, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Terrence Ross & Jonathon Simmons

NBA JAM is about dunking at its heart. And so the three players that will be the focus of a lot of these pairings are going to be on the Magic’s best dunkers. And the Magic have a few of them.

So let’s pair two of them here.

Terrence Ross is a slam dunk champion — although he admits he is not the best dunker on the team. But he can do a little bit more than that.

With the Magic last year, he averaged 12.5 points per game and shot 34.1 percent from beyond the arc. Not terrible percentages. But he definitely seemed to get his footing under him as he got more comfortable in Orlando’s offense.

Even though no one seems to be talking about Ross, there is the potential he will get better and more comfortable after his short run with the team last year. He has been searching for consistency for a long time. Handing him a bigger role outside of Toronto might be what does it.

Ultimately, what he does well is finish at the rim and make some open threes. That is enough to get a solid NBA JAM nod.

The bigger mystery on this Magic team is Jonathon Simmons.

Orlando’s big — and surprising — free agent acquisition, has a lot of promise about him and a lot of people who want to anoint him as the starter already. Ignore the fact he has not been a full-time starter and averaged only 6.2 points per game and shot 29.4 percent from beyond the arc.

His highlights though are impressive. A veritable NBA JAM-like array of dunks and posters he has laid across the league. The thing he lacks is consistent playing time.

Simmons got some of that in the Playoffs last year. He averaged 10.5 points per game and shot 35.1 percent from beyond the arc. There seems like there is another level to Simmons’ game if given consistent playing time and shot opportunities.

That is what would make this duo so interesting. Both Ross and Simmons are strong dunkers. Both have potential to continue growing as 3-point shooters. And so it would be a good NBA JAM team.

But those questions about their shooting would not necessarily make them the ideal team to play with.