Oladipo: Magic still ‘family’

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers guard has been away from the Orlando Magic for 11⁄2 seasons now, but the respect between him and his former Magic teammates remains.

Oladipo recently earned his first All-Star nod, and his former Magic teammates — including

and — have said they’re ecstatic for Oladipo.

“I grew up with them,” Oladipo said before the Pacers hosted the Magic on Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

“Those guys will be my family forever. I’ll support them forever, their entire career. I was with them for three years of my life. We had some good days, bad days. Those guys are like my family. Those are like my brothers over there. So for them to say that, it’s definitely great to hear. A lot of them reached out, which was awesome, and I’m definitely happy that they did that and I’m praying for them all the time, rooting for them all the time. Their best days are yet to come.”

Gordon said Oladipo’s improvement from last season to this season can inspire young players.

“I’ve seen Victor’s late nights,” Gordon said. “People don’t see that. He was in this gym [the Magic’s gym] late nights. He’s a hell of a player, and he’s only going to get better. He’s definitely here to stay [as a star]. I think he’s going to stay in Indiana for his whole career, and he’d be making a smart decision if he did.”

Magic coach felt ill most of Friday and all day Saturday. His symptoms included a bad cough that kept him up all night Friday into Saturday.

“I’ve been better,” Vogel said just before tipoff Saturday. “But I’ll be OK.”

Vogel acknowledged he had moments when he thought he wouldn’t be able to coach Saturday night.

Rookie forward missed his 13th consecutive game Saturday as he continues to rehabilitate his right ankle and continues to regain the conditioning he lost since he originally sprained the ankle on Nov. 11.

Isaac has continued to travel with the team and is making progress, putting more weight on his right leg in individual workouts.

But Vogel indicated that Isaac isn’t close to returning to game action yet.

Vogel said Isaac is “building with his strengthening of his lower body and is still a ways away.”

Isaac has missed a total of 32 games because of his ankle issue. Saturday, Pacers big man

who had been held out of action because of a right elbow injury, played for the first time since Jan. 8.

Indiana coach brought in Turner off the bench and planned to proceed cautiously.

“Anytime we have a guy like this coming back off an injury and has been out for a number of games, a number of weeks, you’ve got to watch him,” McMillan said. “You’ve got to be patient with bringing him back.” On

Vogel received some nice applause when he was announced as the Magic’s coach after the national anthem. He said he had 20 family members and friends in the audience, including his wife and their two daughters.

Gordon recorded three assists on the Magic’s first six baskets as the Magic took a 14-6 lead. The Magic made six of their first seven shots.