What we are thankful for from each Orlando Magic player

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Nikola Vucevic’s lone 3-pointer helped the Orlando Magic force overtime where they pulled through to defeat the Detroit Pistons. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

This Thanksgiving, we take a pause to reflect on why we are thankful for each member of the Orlando Magic as we prepare to embark on the 2021 season.

Championships are everything in the NBA. Players’ legacies are set by how many rings they win. It colors every conversation everyone has from the players with the best stars to the teams in the middle.

Everyone is always trying to get to that final destination. The results matter in the league. They are everything.

No one should ever lose sight of this. There is a winner and a loser in every game. A champion and 29 teams trying to figure out how to get to the top of the mountain.

The NBA though is rarely about the destination. Championships matter and everyone is constantly thinking about the big picture and how the team gets closer to its championship aspirations.

But the journey of a season is what makes the NBA such a rich experience. It is the random night where there is a close game or the foibles and personalities that teams take on throughout the course of the season.

Sometimes it is important to take a step back and recognize the joys of the daily grind of an NBA season. What makes a team fun to watch on a daily basis. If everything is always focused on what happens in the Playoffs, you lose sight of what makes this game truly enjoyable.

Thanksgiving is usually a time everyone takes a pause in their lives and reflects on what they are thankful for. They take this time to reflect on the little things that make life enjoyable.

This year has upended a lot of our lives. It has forced us to take stock in the little things and appreciate every little victory and the people in our lives.

The pause in everything should also give us some pause. It should enable us to take a step back and think about the things we truly appreciate and be thankful for the things in our lives.

Usually, at this time of year, we would already be knee-deep into the regular season. The grind would already be consuming us as we watch the Orlando Magic try to win a championship — or make the playoffs, first things first right?

So this is a time to take a breath. This is a time to not put the focus wholly on the pursuit of a title.

Today on Thanksgiving, we want to share what we appreciate and are thankful for about everyone on the Magic’s roster.