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5 Orlando Magic games that should have been on national TV

By Harrison Brown

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Franz Wagner #22 celebrates a basket with Jalen Suggs #4 of the Orlando Magic during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on March 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns beat the Magic 116-113. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Franz Wagner #22 celebrates a basket with Jalen Suggs #4 of the Orlando Magic during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on March 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns beat the Magic 116-113. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
French basketball player Victor Wembanyama (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being picked by the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA Draft at Barclays Center in New York city, on June 22, 2023. France’s Victor Wembanyama was chosen with the top pick in the NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs on June 22, 2023, sparking wild celebrations as the Texas club reveled in landing the gifted teenager seen as a once-in-a-generation talent. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) /

5 Orlando Magic games that should have been on national TV

Feb. 8: vs. San Antonio Spurs

The battle of the first selection in the last two NBA drafts seems like a no-brainer for national TV (the NBA is featuring the top four of the top five picks in a single night, this seems like a good choice too).

Victor Wembanyama will be traveling to Florida to take on the Orlando Magic only a week after the same matchup happens in San Antonio. San Antonio will be looking to prove Wembanyama and company are further along in their rebuild than Orlando. Or at least the Spurs have the more coveted foundational piece.

The hype around Wembanyama is very real with the Spurs receiving 19 national TV games (including NBATV). The league wants to feature Wembanyama a ton this season.

It seems nearly impossible for Paolo Banchero not to hear the Wembanyama noise so far since his arrival into the league. He may look to prove a point.

Banchero does not shy away from competition and this attribute is one of the reasons Magic fans should be excited for the future.

He wants to take the last shot or have the ball in his hands. He wants to be the best player on the court and will do everything in his power to show that he is the better player than Wembanyama.

The Magic’s home game against the Spurs takes place on a Thursday against TNT’s early broadcast of the Dallas Mavericks taking on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Their matchup in San Antonio takes place against the same night as a midweek ABC game between the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets. The Magic are not quite ready for an ABC game nod.

There is a lot to like about the Magic as a young team. But there is also plenty to like about what the Spurs are building around Wembanyama.

Wembanyama is surrounded by young, athletic wings in Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Malaki Branham who can run the floor, shoot and defend at a high level. Jeremy Sochan is another long, athletic player who will continue to develop alongside Wemby building a formidable frontcourt duo.

Both teams will be fun to watch this season. They are fast-paced teams who are trying to find an identity to build on. What each team lacks in experience and discipline they will balance the scale with effort.

The Spurs match up well with the Magic and these two young teams could potentially face each other in the NBA Finals in years to come. At least this is the hope from both organizations.

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