Orlando Magic aware of disrespect, aim to change their image

The Orlando Magic are turning heads and changing minds. One by one, the team seems to be making believers out of anyone who will watch them. All they have to do is watch them.

Just ask Jayson Tatum following the Boston Celtics’ 126-120 win Saturday.

The All-NBA forward was on his way to scoring 40 points and tearing the Magic apart in a game that became a surprising track meet. But he knew he needed to do more to stop this young team.

In the second quarter, he demanded a switch of his defensive assignment. He knew he needed to guard the Magic’s young rookie in Paolo Banchero if his team was going to win.

As he told Jay King of The Athletic, the Celtics let the Magic be comfortable. Even if it was a rookie, Banchero is a player who is garnering a lot of respect around the league. Through three games, the scoring totals the Magic rookie is putting up have been impressive, placing him in some elite company.

The Magic though are 0-3. The team is still trying to find its way and establish itself in the league. But if those first three games are not delivering wins quite yet, they are doing a lot of work to change the narrative about this team.

Very quickly, it seems the Magic are turning heads.

The Orlando Magic are aware of outside doubts about their young team. But they aim to shutter disrespect and change minds about them throughout the league.

Players try not to focus on those external debates about a team’s status in the league. But the Magic acknowledged some of that talk reached them. One thing the team wants to establish this season is an identity that opponents have to respect and prepare for.

In other words, the Magic are keeping receipts and looking to prove a lot of people wrong.

"“I think people just kind of look at us as kind of that little kid you kick over to the side,” Cole Anthony said at Media Day. “I think I’m all grown. I think this team has a bunch of grown dudes who are tired of the disrespect and want to change the narrative and will this program to the spotlight as a team that is respected. Not even forget respect, we don’t need that.  That wins, that can be a playoff team and can be a contender.”"

Plenty of players noted they hear the outside noise and feel the disrespect not just from national media but from other teams and players. Players said there is a group text of the disrespect that they used as motivation in the offseason.

That even includes with local media. As Anthony put it, there is a lot of disrespect about this team’s talent and what they can accomplish. There is very much that little brother mentality.

That is what the team wants to change. It is about changing perceptions about the team on the court. Eventually they want to turn the potential into kinetic energy and a winning group.

Regardless of any of that, everything has to be earned on the court first and foremost. Everyone knows they have to, as coach Jamahl Mosley put it, “level up” on the court. That means taking everything they know they are good at and bringing it on the floor.

If trying to prove the outsiders wrong motivates them to play better, then that is a good story for the team to tell as it tries to improve.

"“For me, I use everything as motivation,” Anthony said at Media Day. “As a team, we are very aware of the image of the Orlando Magic and the lack of respect for us. Everyone is going to use that as motivation to make us a better team, help be better, help win games. I think anything is possible. If one, we can stay healthy is going to be the big thing and two, not lose confidence and have confidence in each other, anything is possible.”"

There is a determination at the very least then to change that perception of the team and prove to be a tougher out and a tougher matchup.

Banchero’s presence has certainly changed a few things. It has given the Magic that supposed centerpiece player as the top overall pick that earns teams’ respect. And how quickly Banchero has found success in the league has certainly confirmed that — 23.3 points per game through three games.

Banchero has added to the excitement for the team’s future. And his play has only layered on that excitement as the Magic try to figure out the best way to use all of their players moving forward.

But Orlando’s other players certainly want to build that reputation and respect in the league too.

Franz Wagner was an often-overlooked player within a strong rookie class even though he was an All-Rookie first-team player. His strong EuroBasket got NBA heads excited, but he is still building a league-wide reputation.

Cole Anthony is even playing with a constant chip on his shoulder. He had a strong season last year and had an All-Star burst early in the season before struggling to the offseason. Jalen Suggs is seeking redemption from a poor rookie season. Wendell Carter is trying to establish himself as a top center in the league.

Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac are trying to prove their health and resume promising careers that injuries have cut down.

The Magic are working as much on themselves as quieting the outside noise. A lot of that will go hand in hand.

"“We have the pieces in-house,” Isaac said at Media Day. “We have the training facility. Leveling up is going to be a mentality. Do we believe that we can win? Do we believe we can really bring championships here? And then can we put the work in? That’s been my messaging. That’s what I’ve been preaching all training camp. That’s what I”m going to be preaching all season.“Talk is cheap. We’ve got to go out there and put the work in and believe we can beat these teams that are going to roll in here and think that they are playing against the same old Orlando Magic. But that’s not happening.”"

Will this be the same old Orlando Magic? That is ultimately the question the Magic want to answer and change. They want opponents to understand how difficult they will be to play against.

The team is already starting to show that. The defensive results or wins do not show yet, but the wave of length and defensive principles the team has is causing some frustration for teams in the half-court, even if it has not completely come together yet.

There is undoubtedly a lot of talent available to the Magic. The perception of this team is born from its uncertainty and youth as much as anything else. It is also born from a decade of national irrelevance that peaked with two playoff cameos.

Reputation is made on the court though.

"“We know we’re going to have to earn it,” Anthony said at Media Day. “It’s not something that is going to be handed to us. That’s not how it works. We try to use it as motivation to drive and push us every single day.”"

Ultimately, Orlando has to turn this potential into wins and create a reputation in the league that will proliferate among fans. That is where everyone makes their mark ultimately.

The Magic are already starting to turn heads though because of that, even after an 0-3 start. There is a lot the team is still building and rebuilding on the court. Soon the rest of the league will recognize that too.

And that is how the Magic change their perception and change the disrespect they feel the Magic have received.