UCF duo playing together again
LAS VEGAS — B.J. Taylor and Chad Brown leaned on each other for four years as teammates at UCF. Now they’re doing the same in the early stages of their potential NBA careers.
Taylor and Brown are in Las Vegas with the Orlando Magic as they prepared to begin their NBA Summer League 2019 play on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs. The game was scheduled to tip off at 11 p.m. EDT, and was too late for Sentinel print editions.
The former UCF players went undrafted but are using the Summer League to show the Magic — as well as other coaches and front-office executives — they have what it takes to contribute to
an NBA team.
Starting that journey together is even sweeter.
“I’ve been playing four years with B.J. and it’s just been a great experience to start my professional career off with him,” Brown said during an interview with reporters after Thursday’s practice in Las Vegas. “He’s a competitor just like me, and we’ve been going at it, learning a lot together and we’ve been picking each other up and helping each other out.”
Taylor, a 6-foot-2 point guard, agreed. He said competing alongside Brown adds a level of comfort.
“It’s really cool to have him around, and just being able to talk to each other and having that camaraderie,” Taylor said during an interview with reporters after Thursday’s practice.
Taylor and Brown don’t just carry the banner for former UCF players in the NBA. They also represent Central Florida.
Taylor grew up in Orlando and starred at Boone High School while Brown had a successful prep career at Deltona High School.
“It’s really just a lot of pride wearing Magic across my chest,” Taylor said during Thursday’s interview. “It’s really cool representing Orlando and being able to play for this team, and it really being [for] my hometown.”
Brown said it’s been a whirlwind of learning so far, with the Magic putting in some two-aday workouts in preparation for the league opener.
“A lot of attention to detail,” he said.
Brown said it’s also been helpful being around experienced players and soaking up their knowledge.
“Just continue to learn from this coaching staff and from these veteran players,” he said. “I just want to continue to do well and help this team out the best way I can in the summer league and have an opportunity to win the championship.”
As far as what they hope to show during the Summer League, Taylor said he wants teams to see he’s an “all-around point guard.”
“My biggest thing is come out here and compete, play hard and show them I’m a tough player,” Taylor said.
Brown, a 6-foot-9 forward, hopes his defensive versatility and tenacity stand out.
One of Friday’s earlier games saw the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 107-106. Former FSU center Christ Koumadje finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots in just 14 minutes for the 76ers.
Former UCF guard A.J. Davis (76ers) and former Wofford guard and Orlando First Academy standout Fletcher Magee (Bucks) did not play.