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2017-18 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Khem Birch

By Jean Racine

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 6: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles Evan Fournier #10 and Khem Birch #24 of the Orlando Magic during the game at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. 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. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 6: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles Evan Fournier #10 and Khem Birch #24 of the Orlando Magic during the game at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. 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. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Khem Birch, Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic, Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 6: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles Evan Fournier #10 and Khem Birch #24 of the Orlando Magic during the game at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. 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. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

The Orlando Magic found a gem in older rookie Khem Birch. Their only problem was struggling to find him playing time. When he got it, he thrived.

The Orlando Magic took a chance on Khem Birch and signed him to 2-year, $2.2 million contract last July. Really, Birch also took a chance on the Magic, giving up a bigger role in Europe and possibly more money to chase a NBA dream.

The move paid dividends for the Magic in a major way.

The Magic found a hidden gem in Birch, who displayed athleticism, good hands and a good feel for the game.

He started off his college basketball career at the with the Pittsburgh Panthers but transferred to play for UNLV Runnin’ Rebels after his freshman season. Birch averaged a double-double his junior year at UNLV, scoring 11.5 points, grabbing 10.2 boards and blocking a whopping 3.8 blocks per game.

He decided to forego his senior season and enter the 2014 NBA Draft. But Birch went undrafted and played three seasons overseas in Europe before the Magic swooped him up.

Birch is on record saying after college he was not ready, but after his time overseas he was now prepared for the NBA leap.

"“This has been my dream for a long time, since I was kid,” Birch said in an interview with Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel last July. “I went overseas for a couple of years, and then I realized I’m ready right now [to play in the NBA]. I wasn’t ready a few years ago, but that experience has helped me a lot, has made me a more mature person. And now I think I’m ready.”"

Birch proved he was ready for the NBA in the 2018 season. Birch endeared himself to Magic fans.

The trick was just finding him playing time, something coach Frank Vogel had difficulty doing. Playing behind a loaded center rotation with Nikola Vucevic, Bismack Biyombo and Marreese Speights made minutes hard to find. This despite Birch’s solid play.

By the end of the year, the Magic were playing him out of position at power forward. Birch did not care. And he still seemed to prove himself a more than capable backup big moving forward.