If you ask an Orlando Magic participant about the very first thing that involves thoughts concerning the NBA on Christmas, you’ll get a wide range of solutions.
Some will level to the commercials, just like the “Jingle Hoops” one which aired forward of the 2013-14 Christmas video games. Others will level to the Christmas version footwear.
But virtually each participant introduced up a selected recreation that caught with them.
Heat vs. Lakers in 2013. Thunder vs. Heat in 2012 in a rematch of the earlier season’s NBA Finals. Cavaliers vs. Warriors in 2016 in an NBA Finals rematch.
“Just trying to watch all the games,” Magic ahead Franz Wagner mentioned. “I remember watching Kobe [Bryant] against the Knicks [in 2012]. Some Knicks-Celtics too. It was always a fun time. We’d watch the family do their thing, but me and [Franz’s brother and Magic big man] Moe [Wagner] would always watch.”
Most Magic gamers have skilled Christmas Day video games as a spectator — one thing they’re hoping to vary within the close to future.
Moe Wagner, Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton, Markelle Fultz and Bol Bol are Magic gamers who’ve been on groups who performed on Christmas.
As a rookie, Moe Wagner performed two minutes within the Lakers’ win over the Warriors on Christmas in 2018. Fultz was with the Philadelphia 76ers for his or her 2017 and ‘18 Christmas games but didn’t play in both.
Bol was on the Nuggets roster for his or her Christmas video games in 2019 and ‘20, playing five minutes in Denver’s 2020 loss to the Clippers. Hampton, a rookie on the time, was additionally on the Nuggets roster throughout that aforementioned 2020 loss however didn’t play.
Harris has probably the most expertise enjoying on Christmas, going for 35 minutes within the Nuggets’ 2019 Christmas loss to the Pelicans and 22 minutes within the ‘20 loss to the Clippers.
“It was cool just to experience it,” Harris mentioned. “You develop up watching NBA Christmas video games, so to be part of it was undoubtedly fairly cool. I don’t suppose you underestimate it form of takes away from the entire day of Christmas. That was my first two Christmases with my son, so it was somewhat completely different for me however I loved it.
“You understand the magnitude once you’re playing. If you have a Christmas game, that means you’re on an exciting team people want to see play. It’s definitely an honor and is definitely meaningful.”
Getting again to enjoying on Christmas Day is one thing the Magic attempt for — particular person gamers and as a company.
The Magic have performed on Christmas 9 occasions over their 34-year historical past, going 5-4. The final time they performed on Christmas got here in 2011, Dwight Howard’s final season with the franchise.
The Magic as soon as once more will probably be spectators right this moment, with the Christmas Day slate that was introduced in August being:
- 76ers vs. Knicks (12, ABC/ESPN)
- Lakers vs. Mavericks (2:30, ABC/ESPN)
- Bucks vs. Celtics (5, ABC/ESPN)
- Grizzlies vs. Warriors (8, ABC/ESPN)
- Suns vs. Nuggets (10:30, ABC/ESPN)
“When they released the Christmas schedule for this year, I wasn’t expecting for us to be on there,” rookie ahead Paolo Banchero mentioned, “but I just wanted to see if we were on there and took that as a note. That’s a milestone for a team, player to get a Christmas game. To play on that day is special in the NBA and a goal we have — to elevate ourselves and gaining that respect.”
Despite successful eight of their final 9 video games, the Magic (13-21) have loads of work to do earlier than getting again to that stage.
Christmas video games are sometimes reserved for elite groups or ones in “glamor markets” — such because the Los Angeles Lakers or the New York Knicks.
Twenty-three groups have performed on Christmas for the reason that final time the Magic did. Most of those that performed on Christmas made the playoffs the earlier season or had a marquee commerce or free-agent acquisition in the course of the offseason.
“That’s just like a cherry on top of becoming one of those good teams,” heart Wendell Carter Jr. mentioned. “You want to give yourself the opportunity to play on those days.”
Added guard R.J. Hampton: “That’s something we all want to get to. The main goal first is getting to the playoffs. When you’re working hard and striving to be one of the best teams in the NBA, Christmas games will come with that. You’ve seen teams in past years go from bottom records to now playing on Christmas Day. That’s definitely something we look forward to.”
Teams such because the Grizzlies and the Hawks give perception into how the Magic can get again to that stage.
The Grizzlies, led by All-Star guard Ja Morant, made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons — together with successful 56 video games final yr and falling to the Warriors within the playoffs’ second spherical — earlier than enjoying of their first Christmas Day recreation right this moment.
The Hawks, led by All-Star guard Trae Young, performed on Christmas in 2021 after making the Eastern Conference finals the earlier season.
Being chosen to play on Christmas is an indication {that a} crew has arrived — or is on the verge of doing so — when the league selects that crew to play within the NBA’s showcase that unofficially places deal with the common season.
“Realistically, we have a long way to go,” Harris mentioned. “I’ve been in the league nine years; I’ve only had two Christmas games. There are some people who’ve never had a Christmas game. It’s something you can’t take for granted. I’m not saying it’s not realistic but we definitely have a long ways to go. It’s going to start one game at a time.”
For the Magic to get again to enjoying on Christmas, they’ll want to begin having extra crew success — making deep runs within the playoffs — first. Having star energy may even assist.
Banchero, the No. 1 decide in June’s draft, will doubtless be a major issue when/if the Magic play on Christmas once more.
“I [say] next year, but if not then for sure Year 3,” Banchero mentioned when requested when he hopes to play a Christmas recreation. “Realistically, I’d say my third year.”
Added Fultz: “As soon as possible. Hopefully, next year. If not that, the year after that.”
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
