Wesley Iwundu was a promising rookie who was very rough around the edges last year. Now he looks more like a 3-and-D player who can contribute long term.
The NBA can be very cruel.
If you are a second-round pick, the pressure to perform early and prove your worth is even greater. There are seldom any guarantees for players taken in the second round and they have to prove themselves over and over again.
It goes double for a player like Wesley Iwundu who spent three years in college and figured to be a more readymade player.
Of course, that was not the case. He slipped to the second round because he displayed a ton of defensive acumen and an improving jump shot. But no one was going to confuse Wesley Iwundu for a knock-down shooter. In fact, teams were more than happy to let him fire away from three.
Just like his development late in his college career, his NBA career was completely dependent on his ability to develop as a shooter.
The Orlando Magic seemingly decided to hedge their bets, drafting a similar player in Melvin Frazier Both made reputations in college with their athleticism, length and defense and their inability to put the ball in the basket.
That was the pressure facing Iwundu when he returned to the team this offseason. He had no guaranteed spot in the rotation and pressure beneath him on the roster. His Summer League play did not generate much confidence either as he struggled to shoot in Las Vegas.
Iwundu would succeed under all this pressure and scrutiny. He made an early impression on coach Steve Clifford and only a predilection for the more veteran Jonathon Simmons kept him out of the rotation early on in the season.
When Iwundu did get a chance, it was clear Clifford did not want to keep him off the floor. He was the ultimate utility tool.
He did finally enter the rotation and became a key role player for the Magic. He became a more confident shooter and was a strong defender for the team throughout the season.
Iwundu will not get mentioned with the team’s young core, but he should have a strong place established in the Magic’s rotation entering next season. His utility and improvements suggest he is just getting started.
The Good and the Bad
| Season | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 68 | 13 | 18.1 | .412 | .367 | .465 | .816 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 5.0 |
| Career | 130 | 25 | 17.3 | .419 | .304 | .457 | .787 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 4.4 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/8/2019.
Wesley Iwundu had a pretty simple role when he entered games this season.
His job was first and foremost to provide the team with energetic defense. That is ultimately what got him into the NBA. His athleticism and defensive ability are central to his opportunity for playing time. That is what made him NBA worthy, to begin with.
The second part of his role is to make outside shots when the opportunity presents itself. Teams are going to leave him open and dare him to shoot. He had to make them pay.
Iwundu clearly had the defense part down.
According to Basketball-Reference, he posted 1.4 defensive win shares and a 0.7 defensive box plus-minus. The Magic had a 102.4 defensive rating with Iwundu on the floor, the best mark for any player on the team who played at least 1,000 minutes this season.
Wesley Iwundu was not making overwhelming defensive plays like Jonathan Isaac might. Nor was he guarding the best player on the opposing team every night like Aaron Gordon was.
Iwundu’s role was off the bench. The team did not need him to start except in some spot areas. But his energy defensively was noticeable. He was a reliable defender both on his own man and in help.
It was easy to see why Steve Clifford raved about him. And puzzling to figure out what took Steve Clifford so long to get him in the rotation over the struggling Jonathon Simmons.
It might have been that second piece. Iwundu’s 3-point shooting was still a cause for concern.
But even there he took some major strides. Iwundu shot 36.7 percent from beyond the arc, significantly better than the 19.6 percent he shot his rookie year. That was a significant improvement.
He is still not a supremely confident 3-point shooter. Iwundu was selective with his shots, never really playing outside of himself. If he was not in rhythm or feeling the shot he did not take it.
That is a good thing for the team’s approach overall. Iwundu would generally make the right decision with the ball and look to attack to keep the ball moving. But teams were still more than happy to take their chances at let Iwundu fire away from three.
To be sure, Iwundu has to continue improving as a 3-point shooter, including gaining more confidence and consistency with his shot.
Best Game of 2019
April 1 at Raptors: 16 points, 7/7 FGs, 2/2 3FGs
The Orlando Magic seemingly had the Toronto Raptors’ number entering April. Their size and defensive acumen gave them problems in their three previous matchups, with the Magic taking two. There was still the possibility these two teams would meet in the postseason.
The Raptors made sure to let the Magic know who could dominate that series. The April 1 game, a 12-point victory for Toronto where a second-half surge gave the team the win, was a signal of the Raptors’ ability to matchup with the Magic. This was not what Toronto would do to Orlando in the playoffs, but it was a signal too.
Iwundu was not among those who got that signal. Wesley Iwundu hit two long-range shots in the first half for his first two makes, including a contested 3-pointer over Danny Green.
He continued his strong run as one of the few players able to get much movement or momentum going in the second half. He was able to cut to the basket and finish around the rim and make jumpers.
This game displayed Iwundu’s growing confidence. He was able to hit shots with confidence, not hesitating to fire away. And he showed his athleticism and cutting ability in working his way to the basket.
This game is exactly how the Magic want Iwundu to play. He did not have many games where he made such a clear statistical impact. This one was his finest game.
2020 Outlook
Wesley Iwundu is not likely to get included in the Orlando Magic’s promising young core. He is still something of an afterthought when it comes to the Magic’s future.
That is fine. No one is expecting Iwundu to step into the starting lineup outside of a spot start when needed. He can fill that role fine.
But his best role is still coming off the bench. The Magic should feel good about using him as a utility player off the bench, able to change the game or keep the energy level up with his defensive intensity.
The question for how much Iwundu can contribute is going to depend on how much his 3-point shooting continues to develop.
He undoubtedly took a big step forward this season. Defenses were still willing to leave him alone and let him shoot from the outside. They probably still will be when the teams reconvene in the fall.
But Iwundu was more comfortable and confident shooting. That has to continue to develop for him. There is no reason to think that work will not continue. It was easy to see his confidence growing as the season continued. The team has to hope that continues to grow in the offseason.
The Magic have to envision he will continue in his bench role. The Magic likely are not going to ask him to step in and take more of the scoring burden if they lose Terrence Ross. That kind of scoring ability and spurtability is not quite in his arsenal right now.
For now, Orlando wants to see him turn into a 3-and-D player. They know he can defend at a high level already off the bench. What they need is for him to become a more reliable 3-point shooter.
With his slashing ability and athleticism around the rim, Iwundu can be a solid role player for the team.
Final Grade
No one quite knew what to expect from Wesley Iwundu. He had a fine rookie year that showed some of what made him a NBA player. But it felt like his minutes were those that go to a player on a team that is far out of the playoff race.
There was enough to keep him around for a little while.
Coach Steve Clifford started some early buzz saying he was really impressed with Iwundu, even while he was not getting minutes to start the season. It was undeniable that he needed to be in.
When he got in, he paid that confidence off tenfold.
He provided the defense the Magic needed off the bench. He was able to keep up the energy and intensity the starters left for the bench to bring. No matter the poor lineups he was sometimes paired with, he was able to maintain his level of intensity.
Wesley Iwundu was actually the first guy off the bench, spelling Aaron Gordon so he could play with the second unit in the second quarter. That is the level of trust Iwundu had.
His 3-point shooting also dramatically improved. That was the most welcome sign and ultimately what made him a more reliable player for the team. Someone they could play for long stretches of time.
His 3-point shooting is still the key to what he can do as a player.
Throughout the season, Iwundu was really good at playing within himself. He did not take shots that he was not comfortable with and then made the right play attacking off the dribble or keeping the ball moving.
This included passing up some open 3-pointers on occasion when his confidence or timing was not particularly right. That is good recognition from a young player, but also missed opportunities.
As Iwundu continues to grow and develop, this will change. He will feel more comfortable taking and making those shots.
This season was an important step forward for him. He proved he belonged and could carve out a role in the league. If he repeats this season and grows from it, Iwundu should have a long NBA career.