For Orlando Magic guard R.J. Hampton, volunteering to play within the Las Vegas summer season league was a easy choice.
To coach Jamahl Mosley, Hampton stepping ahead was an embodiment of the type of group he’s seeking to construct.
“That’s what we want [from] all our guys,” Mosley stated after Sunday’s pre-summer league follow. “We talk about the competitive edge we want to continue to have and the joy for the game. The ability for R.J. to not play major minutes throughout the year but say I want to play summer league says a lot about his willingness to compete.”
Players of Hampton’s expertise stage — he’s coming into his third season within the NBA — can’t be required to play in summer season league like most first- or second-year gamers.
So when it was revealed Hampton was on the Magic’s summer season league group, it was evident he requested to play.
Hampton made that clear on social media and when talking with reporters over the weekend.
“Just looking to get to know the guys on our summer league team — know Paolo [Banchero], know Caleb [Houstan],” Hampton stated referring to the Magic’s latest draft picks. “There’s a lot of summer to play basketball. Why not play with the Magic organization in summer league and get better?”
Hampton, the No. 24 decide within the 2020 draft, performed in summer season league with the Magic final 12 months.
The 2020 summer season league forward of Hampton’s rookie season with the Denver Nuggets was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Magic will kick off summer season league towards the Houston Rockets at 10 p.m. on Thursday within the first of their 5 video games. It’s unlikely Hampton performs in each recreation.
“I only got to play one summer league,” Hampton stated. “It’s a great opportunity for me to get run and get extra reps.”
Although he appeared in 115 video games throughout his first two seasons, it’s clear Hampton would profit from taking part in summer season league.
Playing alongside Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs and Markelle Fultz for vital elements of the season, Hampton wasn’t the Magic’s main ballhandler as incessantly in comparison with the tip of the 2020-21 season.
That meant fewer alternatives to run the offense in a standard sense — being the ballhandler in pick-and-rolls — and extra utilization in spot-up, off-ball or secondary ballhandler conditions.
At summer season league, Hampton can be tasked with extra ballhandling duties and have extra tasks as a creator.
With his dimension (6-foot-6), pace and athleticism, stepping into the paint or creating benefits haven’t been a problem for Hampton. Taking benefit of them, whether or not it’s ending on the rim or the timing of his passes, has been.
Hampton talked about his “on-ball” recreation as one thing he was seeking to showcase.
“Making decisions, getting everybody better and just keep up my defensive intensity — that’s something I look forward to bringing to this team,” he stated. “Just competing against other guys in summer league and even guys here will be great for me.”
This offseason and the 2022-23 season can be essential for Hampton.
He’s coming into the third 12 months of his rookie scale contract, with a $4.22 million group choice for the 2023-24 season.
Hampton’s summer season performances possible received’t have a major influence on his long-term future, however they may very well be necessary steps for his improvement.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com