Iwundu makes most of minutes
Small forward’s two-way abilities impress Clifford
The more and more Wes Iwundu sees the floor for the Orlando Magic, it seems the more his praises are being sung by Magic head coach Steve Clifford.
Clifford loves what Iwundu brings to the table. His versatility on both sides of the floor gives Clifford so many more options to apply to different personnel rotations, and he has used him in numerous situations already this season.
“He has the potential, in my opinion, to become a two-way player with positional size and versatility who can play at both ends of the floor and is totally reliable,” Clifford said. “You’ve gotta have guys that when you put them in there you know what they’re going to do, and he’s smart and he plays in a way that guys like to play with him, and we execute when he’s out there, at both ends.”
He was used as a starter when Jonathan Isaac was injured, and later when Aaron Gordon sat out for a game. He’s even been one of the last guys off the bench sometimes, but that doesn’t faze Iwundu.
Of course he wants to be a starter. Who doesn’t? But Iwundu has not only bought into his role, but he also enjoys what he’s able to do for the Magic team.
“My role right now is very solid and very simple. It’s like I always say, it’s just bringing the energy each and every night consistently … spacing the floor, creating and just being able to be that versatile player on both ends of the floor both offensively and defensively,” Iwundu said. “Having those abilities will help me expand my game and my role even more, having a better role going into the future. Right now it’s just about building confidence and maintaining.”
Iwundu also just likes to be appreciated and he said he has a great relationship with first-year Magic coach Clifford.
“It means a lot. Coach Clifford, for him to be coming in here his first year, I think we’ve already built a great connection and great relationship between me and him,” Iwundu said. “It’s just because of the player I am. I’m all about my X’s and O’s and trying to make the least mistakes.
“That fits Coach Clifford’s game, especially on the defensive end, bringing it each and every night. I think you can just go on from there with a coach like Coach Clifford, so it’s pretty good.”
His offense has picked up a little bit from his rookie season as he is averaging 4.4 points per game and almost 2 rebounds. But it’s not the box score numbers that jump out. The intangibles are most important, like guarding some of the opposition’s better players when he’s in the game.
“Of my role right now my favorite part would probably be defending,” he said. “Just trying to make a difference on the defensive end, whether that’s slowing the other team’s hottest guy down or just whoever my assignment is. It’s just trying to get effort on defense and create some plays in the open court in transition.”
When told that Clifford saw him as having the potential to be a great twoway player, he was all smiles and happy to hear it.
“That sounds very good to me,” Iwundu said. “That’s how I see myself, as well. As I continue to play each game and get better, it’s the slow grind, man ... I just wanna keep getting better each day and helping the team get better and better. I just gotta keep doing what I’ve been doing to get to this point.”