Why you should be an Orlando Magic fan this year

If you have been an Orlando Magic fan, these past few years have been tough.

Middle of the pack, spurts of promise followed by devastating injuries defined these past few years.

Both Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz went down with significant injuries which sidelined them for almost the entire 2021 season. Then the Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon combination did not click for a third straight playoff appearance and the team moved on at the trade deadline.

The list could go on and on. But this season will be different. It almost has to be with the team starting completely over with a new roster and a new rebuild the team is set to embark on.

The Orlando Magic are starting new in the 2022 season. The beginnings of a rebuild is an exciting time and fans should be ready to jump on board.

Why you may ask? What is so enticing about a lottery team that has not seen any sort of relevance since Dwight Howard was an All-NBA center?

Well first, the team has embraced youth and has shed its aging skin. Trading Fournier, Vucevic and Gordon was the first step. After the conclusion of the season, the Magic ended up with Gary Harris, Wendell Carter, R.J. Hampton and a total of five future picks.

The team has set itself up for the future both with the players on the roster and the assets the team has collected beyond.

That is not even the best part. The Magic could possibly have had the best draft amongst the 30 teams.

After Jalen Suggs fell on their laps, they picked up their combo guard of the future and Franz Wagner, a versatile forward with enticing potential. Where either prospect slot into the bench of the starting lineup is a question for a later date. For now, bask in the glorious potential.

The team certainly is. They have spent significant time together this offseason and have the youthful confidence anyone would expect. That alone is creating excitement.

So why should you become a Magic fan this coming season? Why this iteration of the Magic? Why not be a New York Knicks fan? Well, here lie the answers to your questions, traveler.

The Young Fellas

There is a high chance the Orlando Magic lose a lot of games this year.

According to Vegas odds, the team is projected to finish last in the Eastern Conference. ESPN’s panel of experts believes the same.

Perhaps they may get lucky and snag a few here and there, but expectations are low. Nobody seems too upset about this at this point.

Low expectations, room for experimentation and a fresh attitude should give the young players on the Magic time to grow. Assuming everyone grows in some sort of way this season, even games against the Sacramento Kings on a Wednesday night in February could be exciting.

Cole Anthony had a propensity for producing rim rocking highlights that include a game-winner against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the middle of January or his come-from-behind capper against the Memphis Grizzlies in April.

Each rookie, sophomore or even fourth-year player has room to grow in this league. No matter where they are as a player, getting to the next level should always be a priority. It just so happens the Magic have some of the most exciting young players in the league (that is not an exaggeration).

Being able to watch R.J. Hampton take advantage of his newfound height or Mohamed Bamba finally showing why he was picked sixth in the draft are exciting things to look forward to.

Personality

The worst thing any team can be is bad and boring. This team will not be boring.

This team has some personality.

The Orlando Magic’s biggest free-agent signing of the offseason was previously known as a menace to mascots but is one of the most likable characters in the NBA. Robin Lopez was brought on as a veteran presence for an aspiring young Magic team but Lopez may have business with someone else.

Perhaps one of Lopez’s biggest rivals is the Magic’s mascot STUFF.

The countless bouts between the veteran center and STUFF are well documented. The two have put their differences aside this season. But it is easy to see how much fun Lopez can bring to the locker room — from his love of Disney to the sense of humor he is already bringing.

Another outstanding character is Cole Anthony.

From his viral interview after his game-winners against the Timberwolves and Grizzlies to his sideline antics at a UCF Football game, Anthony is the energy the Magic need.

What he brings to the team is a level of playful youth but intense competition that makes for an inspiring combination.

Recent signing Moritz Wagner, a man without a fear in the world, especially against some of the league’s best and Terrence Ross and his viral expressions only spice things up.

Pair these unique personalities with quiet, reserved and professional players like Jonathan Isaac, the Magic are a unique and entertaining bunch.

So What’ll it Be?

The NBA is constantly evolving as teams experience change almost every month of the season. Teams like the Charlotte Hornets that were lost in the dark for a few seasons found their footing due to an exciting young core of talent.

At the end of the day, the on-court product is what matters and sparks imagination and excitement for a franchise.

New coach Jamahl Mosley is expected to bring a team that plays with much more aggression and energy than Steve Clifford’s more conservative philosophy. Mosley has only promised the team would play with the pace, space and pass on offense and would play with toughness, togetherness and communication on defense.

The Orlando Magic are in a similar situation as the Charlotte Hornets and may even be traveling on the same trajectory the Atlanta Hawks were on two years ago.

One thing’s for sure, this coming season will be every bit as painful as it is exciting, there is no denying that. But becoming a Magic fan this season is to become a fan of the process and of one of the most underrated young teams in the NBA.