Magic rookies Black, Howard showcase skillsets in summer league debuts
LAS VEGAS — When asked earlier in the week what he was hoping to showcase in his summer league debut, Magic rookie Anthony Black answered simply: “A little bit of everything.”
The No. 6 pick in last month’s draft did just that in his first game in Las Vegas against the Detroit Pistons as Orlando fell 89-78 inside the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday.
Despite the loss, Black portrayed his ability to distribute the basketball early and often, assisting on Orlando’s first four baskets of the game. Later he showed off his scoring with an outburst of 10 points in the fourth quarter alone.
Despite 7 turnovers, Black stuck to his instincts and did what the Magic asked of him as the 6-7 Arkansas product finished with 17 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds in 28 minutes.
“The way the game was going — we had been in a drought — I thought maybe I needed to be a little more aggressive,” Black said. “My teammates were finding me and they were telling me to be aggressive all game, so I turned it on then.”
His new teammate, Jett Howard, who was drafted five picks later, did the same. The 6-8 guard-forward sank his first pair of 3-point attempts and finished with 8 points and 4 rebounds to go with 4 assists in 29 minutes.
Still, Howard sees room for improvement.
“I feel like I could have shot the ball way better,” he said. “I could have been more efficient. I made some of the right reads on my assists. It’s a learning experience.”
Howard and Black also were active on defense, recording 3 steals apiece.
Detroit’s Ausar Thompson, who was selected one pick ahead of Black, finished with 7 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Big men Jalen Duren and James Wiseman scored 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Black’s fourth-quarter scoring included an opportunity for a 4-point play when he was fouled by Marcus Sasser on a made 3-pointer but he missed the free throw.
“He had found his sea legs,” Magic summer league coach Dylan Murphy said. “There was just a comfort level of being out there. Obviously, it’s Vegas, a lot of people watching, first time in the NBA and I just thought he got really comfortable and knew his spots.”
The first-round draft picks weren’t the only ones making an impact for the Magic.
Summer league veteran Kevon Harris scored 9 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in the first quarter and finished with a team-high 21 points.
“It brings my energy up,” Black said about Harris’s performance. “It brings everybody’s energy up. I love playing with him. He plays hard every day, even in practice. He’s a great leader too.”
Caleb Houstan, last year’s No. 32 pick, finished with 12 points, all of which came on 3-pointers. He added 2 rebounds.
Sitting courtside for Orlando’s first summer league game were multiple currently rostered Magic players, including Paolo Banchero, brothers Franz Wagner and Moe Wagner, Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs and Goga Bitadze.
“It’s a brotherhood at the end the day,” Howard said. “They don’t have to be here, obviously. That alone shows true character and it means a lot to us young guys.”
The Magic return to the court for their second summer league game Monday night against Indiana (8:30 p.m., NBA TV) inside the Thomas & Mack Center.
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.
