Georges-Hunt makes strides in offseason
Fewer than three months have passed since the Orlando Magic last played a regular-season game, but it seems clear that
has put the time to good use.
“I’ve improved a lot,” Georges-Hunt said. “My ball-handling got better. My shot got even more consistent. I’ve been in the weight room with
and our strengthand-conditioning staff. I’ve been with our dietitian. I’ve just been doing all the things [to] prepare me to this point to get ready for summer league and showcase what I’ve been working on.”
That’s no overstatement.
The 23-year-old swingman arguably has been the Magic’s most dependable player through four games of the Orlando Pro Summer League.
He’s averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 25.4 minutes per game. He’s also played solid defense, switching effectively on screens.
“He’s risen to the challenge defensively,” said
the Magic’s lead assistant coach. “He has competed every minute he’s been on the floor. He brings physicality to the game that we appreciate. He really does. He really guards.”
The Magic signed Georges-Hunt late last season with the hope that he would play for the team’s minor-league affiliate in Lakeland in 2017-18. But he may be doing enough to earn serious consideration for an NBA roster spot in the season ahead.
He scored 10 points as the Magic defeated the winless New York Knicks 84-73 on Wednesday.
Former Magic center and current Knicks center
attended the Magic-Knicks game, and O’Quinn used the game to indulge one of his hobbies. O’Quinn, an avid photographer, took pictures of the game — first from a seat behind the baseline and later from a seat across from the Knicks’ bench.
O’Quinn is a good photographer. He snapped photos at a friend’s wedding that came out nicely. Magic point guard
watched the second half of the game with O’Quinn.
scored a game-high 20 points in the Magic’s win over the Knicks. At times, Lucas and fellow point guard
played other.
Both players grew up in Michigan, but they attended archrival colleges, albeit at different times. Lucas went to Michigan State, and Walton went to Michigan.
alongside
each
“I make it well-known: My last time playing against Michigan State, we won by a significant amount,” Walton said.
“So I made sure he heard about that. But he’s a Detroit guy.
“So at the end of the day, it’s always good to be able to relate to somebody of similar size and similar background.
“Overall, it’s a good experience.”
With their victory over the Knicks, the Magic clinched a spot in the fifthplace game Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets.
The game is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
The Knicks and Miami Heat will play in the seventh-place game at 8 a.m.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will face off against the Indiana Pacers in the third-place game at noon.
And the Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks will play each other in the championship game at 2 p.m.