Watch Countdown to Tip-Off | An Orlando Magic special from WESH 2 Sports
NEW ERA FOR THE ORLANDO MAGIC. I THINK WE’RE READY TO KIND OF WALK INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF OUR TEAM. IT’S MORE OF A WIN NOW PHILOSOPHY, A WIN NOW. APPROACH A PUBLIC SHIFT, BRINGING HOPE THAT TODAY COULD FEEL LIKE THE DAYS OF OLD WITH A POWERFUL DUNK. THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN BUILT AND NOW THIS KINGDOM IS ON THE RISE. IT’S A MINDSET. YOU CAN SEE THE SHIFT IN THE WAY IN WHICH THEY’RE GOING. YOU CAN SEE THE WAY THAT THEY’RE APPROACHING THE GAME A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. THIS TEAM’S CORE WAS BUILT BY THE DRAFT, BUT HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED OVER THE SUMMER. IT STARTS TOMORROW. ALL THOSE SMALL THINGS ADD UP, AND THEN WHEN IT’S TIME TO SHINE, LIKE YOU’RE ALREADY READY, A NEW STANDARD IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. DO YOU WANT TO PLAY HIGH LEVEL BASKETBALL? YOU WANT TO PLAY BIG STAKES BASKETBALL. YOU KIND OF GET THAT FEELING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE’RE, YOU KNOW, WE’RE SERIOUS AND WE’RE TRYING TO CONTEND. THIS IS OUR SEASON PREVIEW SHOW AS WE COUNTDOWN TO TIP OFF FOR THE ORLANDO MAGIC FROM WESH TWO SPORTS. THIS IS MAGIC COUNTDOWN TO TIP OFF. WE ARE LIVE INSIDE THE ADVENTHEALTH TRAINING CENTER IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO, THE HOME OF THE ORLANDO MAGIC, ABOUT A BLOCK NORTH OF THE KIA CENTER. THIS IS WHERE THE WORK IS DONE. NO BETTER PLACE TO PREVIEW THE SEASON AHEAD. AS WE COUNT YOU DOWN TO TIP OFF IN ANOTHER SEASON OF ORLANDO MAGIC BASKETBALL. HELLO EVERYBODY! ALONGSIDE KRISTEN LAGO, I’M DAREN STOLZFUS AND WE ARE FIRED UP FOR THE START OF A NEW SEASON. THE REAL THING GETS UNDERWAY A WEEK FROM TODAY ON NBC. THE MAGIC HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEDNESDAY, THOUGH, TO REALLY TIP OFF THEIR SEASON. YEAH, AS YOU ALLUDED TO THERE, DAREN THE MAGIC WILL TIP OFF THEIR SEASON A WEEK FROM TOMORROW AGAINST THE MIAMI HEAT. BUT FOR ALL OF THAT HAPPENS, WE’RE GOING TO GET YOU READY FOR THAT TIP OFF WITH ALL OF THE STORYLINES THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. YEAH, A LOT HAS CHANGED HERE FOR THE ORLANDO MAGIC. AND I THINK THAT’S UNDERSELLING IT A LITTLE BIT. THINGS ARE DIFFERENT HERE IN ORLANDO. THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW SEASONS. THEY’RE BACK TO BACK PLAYOFF APPEARANCES. BUT NOW THE EXPECTATIONS ARE REALLY ON THE RISE. AND WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT MOVES FROM THE FRONT OFFICE, IT FEELS LIKE IT’S TIME TO WIN. NOW IN ORLANDO. YEAH, IT’S BEEN A BIT OF A SLOW BURN FOR A WHILE HERE, BUT THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE ALL OF THE PIECES ON THE FLOOR AND OFF OF IT TO BE CONTENDERS. IF NOT NOW, THEN VERY SOON. AND THAT MAY BE THE BIGGEST CHANGE OF ALL FOR THIS FRANCHISE. AND I THINK AS THESE GUYS BUY INTO THAT VISION FROM THE FRONT OFFICE, THEY’RE SEEING THE FRONT OFFICE BACK THEM, AND IT REALLY HAS TAKEN THINGS UP A NOTCH GETTING TO THE PLAYOFFS. THAT’S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR THIS GROUP. NO. WE’VE SEEN THE EXPECTATIONS SORT OF CHANGE WITH EVERY YEAR THAT THAT FOUNDATION HAS BEEN LAID. WE’VE HEARD IT FROM POWELL, WE’VE HEARD IT FROM FANS. JALEN, ALL OF THE CORE. THEY SAID THE SAME. THEY DON’T WANT TO JUST GET TO THE PLAYOFFS ANYMORE. THAT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. AND THEY DON’T JUST WANT HOME COURT ADVANTAGE THEY WANT MORE. YEAH THEY’VE HAD A TASTE. THEY WANT MORE. AND I THINK GETTING TO THAT NEXT STEP I DON’T EVEN KNOW IF THAT’S GOING TO BE GOOD ENOUGH. THIS GROUP WANTS A SHOT AT A CHAMPIONSHIP I MEAN IT’S EXCITING. YOU KNOW, THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR, FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, GET SERIOUS. AND, YOU KNOW, BE READY TO CONTEND. I THINK JUST THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION IS DIFFERENT. AND JUST THE TERM IN TERMS OF THE ATTITUDE. AND, YOU KNOW WHAT EVERYONE’S TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, WHAT OUR GOALS ARE, YOU KNOW, IT’S EVERYTHING’S BEEN ELEVATED. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE MENTALITY OF WANTING TO WIN AND FEELING LIKE YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO WIN, BUT ALSO REALIZING THAT IT’S JUST DAY BY DAY, KIND OF FOCUSING ON EACH MOMENT. I THINK GUYS HAVE GOTTEN A TASTE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS OF, OKAY, WE MADE THE PLAYOFFS GREAT. WE’VE EXPERIENCED IT, WE’VE SEEN IT, BUT NOW THERE’S A TASTE AND A THIRST FOR MORE. BUT TAKING THAT NEXT STEP, QUENCHING THAT THIRST IS SO DIFFICULT. AND WE’RE GOING TO FIND OUT OVER THE NEXT HALF HOUR WHY. YEAH. AND WHEN YOU TALK TO PAOLO BANCHERO I THINK YOU TOLD ME HE SAID IT BEST. IT’S ALL ABOUT STAYING HEALTHY FOR THIS TEAM BECAUSE THE INJURY BUG, IT HIT THE MAGIC PRETTY HARD AND REPEATEDLY OVER THE LAST SEASON. AND AS WE START THE NEW YEAR, THIS TEAM IS STILL IN THE HEALING PROCESS. JALEN SUGGS HAD LARGELY BEEN LIMITED TO NO CONTACT DRILLS TODAY. HE DID PARTICIPATE IN A LITTLE BIT OF CONTACT. WENT THROUGH THE THREE ON THREE DURING PRACTICE, BUT THE MAGIC’S HOPED HE’D BE READY TO START THE SEASON. WE DON’T KNOW IF THAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN YET, BUT MO WAGNER TAHESHA EXCUSE ME, HIS ACL IN LATE DECEMBER. TYPICALLY THAT’S AT LEAST A NINE MONTH RECOVERY PERIOD. BUT SOME NBA PLAYERS HAVE NEEDED MORE THAN A YEAR TO RETURN TO THE FLOOR. YEAH. SO ABOUT ONE WEEK OUT. HERE’S HOW THE INJURY LIST LOOKS. NO OFFICIAL DESIGNATION FOR EITHER OF THOSE GUYS, BOTH LISTED AS DAY TO DAY. BUT IF PAST HISTORY IS ANY GUIDE, WE’RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE MAGIC RUSH TO GET THESE GUYS BACK ON THE FLOOR. BUT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE MAGIC ARE SO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE UPCOMING YEAR, ONE OF THEIR NEWEST ACQUISITIONS, DESMOND BANE. HE COMES TO THE MAGIC FROM THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES AND THEY GAVE UP A LOT TO GET HIM. BUT THERE’S A BIG REASON WHY. YEAH, THAT WAS THEIR FIRST MAJOR TRADE IN ABOUT FOUR YEARS. THEY PAID A PRETTY PENNY FOR DESMOND BANE SERVICES. BUT ZACH MASKAVICH WILL TELL US WHY THIS TEAM BELIEVES HE IS WELL WORTH IT TO SAY THE MAGIC WERE HIGH ON DESMOND BANE. BOY, WOULD THAT BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THE GUY IS ALMOST THE PLAYER YOU WOULD DESIGN IF YOU COULD START FROM SCRATCH. THERE AREN’T TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT I THINK THE LEAGUE REGARDS AS HIGHLY IN THEIR LOCKER ROOM, IN THEIR ORGANIZATION, IN PRACTICE, AS DESMOND BANE. NOW, IT TOOK A LOT TO GET BANE FROM MEMPHIS FOR FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS COLE ANTHONY AND KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL POPE, BUT IT’S A MOVE THE MAGIC FELT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL TO FOCUS ON WINNING NOW. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT BANE HAS DONE DURING HIS FIVE YEAR NBA CAREER, HE HAS JUST SHOT 41% FROM THREE SINCE ENTERING THE NBA. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ORLANDO DESPERATELY NEEDS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAGIC WERE DEAD LAST IN THREE POINT PERCENTAGE IN THE NBA LAST YEAR. NOW, THIS IS A MOVE THAT MANY FANS FEEL HAS THE MAGIC AS FRONTRUNNERS IN THE EAST THIS SEASON. AROUND THE NBA, BANE IS KNOWN AS BEING A TENACIOUS PLAYER ON BOTH ENDS OF THE FLOOR. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT HE AND JALEN SUGGS HAVE IN COMMON, AND SUGGS CAN’T WAIT TO HAVE BANE IN THE BACKCOURT WITH HIM THIS YEAR. DESMOND BANE ANSWERS FOR THE MAGIC HIS DOG MENTALITY, I THINK IS LIKE STANDS OUT ABOVE ALL ELSE WHEN HE STEPS IN BETWEEN THESE LINES. HE’S SUCH A DOG. HE WANTS TO WIN. HE WANTS TO COMPETE. HE WANTS TO RUFFLE FEATHERS IN A GOOD WAY, WHICH I LOVE. AND SO JUST BEING ABLE TO GET IN THE BACKCOURT WITH HIM ONCE WE START FLOWING, GET OUR VIBES RIGHT, FIND EACH OTHER’S TIMING AND SPACE. I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE ELITE NOW. I THINK WE TRULY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ONE OF THE BEST BACKCOURTS, THE BEST BACKCOURT IN THE LEAGUE. THIS IS A MOVE THAT FANS AND PLAYERS ALIKE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. THE MAGIC ARE PUSHING THEIR CHIPS IN TO START WINNING NOW. THE EXPECTATION IS SOMETHING THAT BANE AND HIS NEW TEAMMATES ARE EMBRACING. I THINK IT’S GOOD TO GO INTO A SEASON WHERE PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING THINGS OF YOU, YOU KNOW, I’VE BEEN IN POSITIONS WHERE WE’RE JUST TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S IT’S IT’S GREAT. I MEAN, EVERYBODY I THINK HAS GOT TO RISE TO THE OCCASION, YOU KNOW, DON’T DON’T BACK DOWN FROM IT. BRINGING IN DESMOND TYUS THE TWO ROOKIES. YOU KNOW I’M REALLY HIGH ON. YOU CAN KIND OF GET THAT FEELING THAT YOU KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE’RE YOU KNOW WE’RE SERIOUS AND WE’RE YOU KNOW TRYING TO CONTEND ZACH MASKAVICH WESH TWO SPORTS. THANK YOU. ZACH DESMOND BANE JOINING WHAT IS STILL A VERY YOUNG MAGIC CORPS BECAUSE WHEN YOU’RE OLDEST PLAYER IS 29, IT’S CLEAR THERE’S A YOUTH MOVEMENT GOING ON HERE IN ORLANDO. JUST FOUR TEAMS HAVE A YOUNGER AVERAGE AGE THAN THE ORLANDO MAGIC. YEAH. IN THAT CORE FOUR THAT YOU SEE ON THEIR SCREEN, THEY’RE ALL BACKED UP. PAOLO BANCHERO, FRANZ WAGNER, JALEN SUGGS, DESMOND BANE LOCKED UP FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. AT THE MINIMUM, THE FOUNDATION IS STRONG. THE PATH TO CONTENTION APPEARS TO BE DIRECTLY AHEAD. NOW GETTING TO THIS SPOT, A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM THE FRONT OFFICE. WE’RE GOING TO SIT DOWN ONE ON ONE WITH JEFF WELTMAN AN INTERVIEW YOU CAN ONLY SEE RIGHT HERE ON WESH TWO. BUT WE’RE ALSO TALKING A LITTLE BIT OFF THE COURT. YEAH, WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE MAGIC DNA THAT RUNS THROUGH THIS ROSTER THIS YEAR. WE HAD A FATHER SON DUO TWO YEARS AGO. KIND OF TAKE THE PLACE. WE’RE GOING TO EXPLORE THAT NEXT WITH THE RICHARDSON FAMILY BACK IN ORLANDO. BUT AS WE HEAD TO BREAK THE MAGIC ENTER THIS SEASON HAVING LOST SEVEN STRAIGHT PLAYOFF SERIES, IT’S THE LONGEST ACTIVE STREAK IN THE NBA. THEY HAVEN’T BEEN PAST THE FIRST ROUND SINCE 2010. ONLY THE PISTONS, KINGS AND HORNETS HAVE GONE LONGER SINCE THEIR LAST PLAYOFF SERIES WIN. THEY WANT TO CHANGE THAT. WE’LL SEE IF THEY CAN. AND ONE GUARD SIX FROM MICHIGAN STATE. NUMBER 23. JASON RICHARDSON. A FAMILIAR NAME AND A FAMILY LEGACY ARE BACK IN ORLANDO THIS SEASON. FROM FATHER TO SON. THE RICHARDSON NAME HAS RETURNED TO THE MAGIC THAT IS A LITTLE MAGIC, RIGHT, CHRIS, WELCOME BACK TO COUNTDOWN TO TIPOFF. AS WE GET YOU SET FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON WITH THE ORLANDO MAGIC. WE HAD BROTHERS LAST YEAR. WE HAD A FATHER SON CONNECTION. THE DNA OF THIS TEAM RUNS DEEP HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. AND JAMAHL, MOSLEY SAID. THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THAT MAGIC DNA. WHEN I TALKED TO BOTH JACE AND JASON, THEY’RE HOPING TO KIND OF CONTINUE THAT LEGACY HERE THIS YEAR. IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON. SAME CITY, SAME LAST NAME, TWO IN A ROW FOR YOUNG JACE RICHARDSON. BUT A WHOLE NEW STORY TO TELL. CAME FLYING IN FROM NOWHERE. CHASE RICHARDSON HIM GOING TO MY ALMA MATER AT MICHIGAN STATE AND THEN GETTING DRAFTED BY A FORMER TEAM THAT I PLAYED FOR. I COULDN’T IMAGINE THAT PART OF IT. FOR HIS SON, JACE, IT’S NEVER BEEN ABOUT LIVING IN HIS DAD’S SHADOW, BUT ABOUT CARRYING ON THE FAMILY LEGACY IN HIS OWN UNIQUE WAY. IN MY HEAD, I KIND OF JUST GO ABOUT IT THAT WE’RE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT PLAYERS. THAT WAS THE SAME THING. WHAT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I WENT TO MICHIGAN STATE? EVERYBODY WAS TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, EQUATE EVERYTHING I DID TO MY FATHER. SO JUST TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT PLAYERS. WHEN I ASKED JASON IF THERE’S EVER BEEN A MOMENT WATCHING JASON PLAY WHERE HE CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY, OH YEAH, HE GOT THAT FROM ME. WELL, HIS ANSWER IT SAID IT ALL. NEVER A MOMENT, BECAUSE THERE’S NEVER A MOMENT BECAUSE HE’S SO CEREBRAL IN THE WAY HE PLAYS. AND SO FOR ME, IT WAS JUST TO RAISE HIM TO BE HIS OWN PERSON, LET HIM FIND HIS OWN PATH. IT JUST SO HAPPENED THE PATH LED THE 19 YEAR OLD TO A CITY HIS DAD ONCE CALLED HOME. JASON PLAYED FOR THE MAGIC FOR TWO SEASONS FROM 2010 TO 2012. MEMORIES NOW COMING FULL CIRCLE. THEY’RE AMAZING, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH STUFF. HE WAS ALWAYS UP IN. THE STUFF PALACE JUST PLAYING, ALWAYS HOOPING. AND IT’S KIND OF FUNNY BECAUSE HE’S STILL PLAYING RIGHT NOW. HE’S GRADUATED FROM STUFF’S PALACE TO THE MAIN COURT. FOR ME, JUST TRYING TO LEARN FROM ALL THE GUARDS, FROM THESE GUYS LIKE JALEN ABBEY, JUST TRYING TO LEARN EVERY SINGLE DAY ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE DOING AND HOW THEY’RE GETTING BETTER. I’M STILL KIND OF IN THAT MINDSET. LIKE I’M STILL, YOU KNOW, STUDENT. I’M STILL A KID, BUT NOW IT’S REAL LIFE NOW. SO YOU GOT TO TAKE IT IN. AND WHILE BOTH HE AND JASON ARE ADAMANT THEY ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLAYERS, THERE’S ONE THING THEY CAN BOTH AGREE ON JUST HOW SPECIAL IT IS TO SEE THEIR DREAMS COLLIDE. WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MOMENT IS GOING TO BE LIKE FOR YOU EMOTIONALLY, KNOWING THAT YOU WATCHED YOUR DAD PLAY HERE IN THIS CITY AS A KID, AND NOW YOU’RE GOING TO STEP ON TO, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, MAYBE A DIFFERENT LOGO, BUT THE SAME COURT. IT’S GOING TO BE SURREAL. HONESTLY, GROWING UP, I USED TO BE AT THE GAMES ALL THE TIME, SO NOW I’M THE ONE ON THE COURT. SO IT’S GOING TO BE A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR MY WHOLE FAMILY. THE RICHARDSON NAME BACK IN ORLANDO AND IT’S JASON’S TURN TO MAKE IT COUNT. AND IF YOU ARE WONDERING, YES, THE FATHER AND SON DO TALK AFTER EVERY GAME AND EVERY PRACTICE. STILL, JACE STILL GETS ADVICE FROM JASON ON HOW TO CARRY HIMSELF AS A PRO. OBVIOUSLY, JACE IS 19. HIS BIRTHDAY IS ON THURSDAY, SO THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL BE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE BIG TWO. OH 19 I KNOW. 19 I DON’T FEEL OLD AT ALL. YEAH, I WONDER IF HE’S GETTING POINTS FOR POINTERS FROM STUFF STILL TOO, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT’S PRETTY SPECIAL. ONE OF THE GUYS THE MAGIC HAVE HIT ON SOLIDLY IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE DRAFT. FIRST OVERALL PICK PAOLO BANCHERO. THE NEXT STEP FOR THIS TEAM, THOUGH, IS CAN PAOLO GRADUATE FROM BEING A STAR TO A SUPERSTAR? THE MAGIC ALREADY AGREED TO TERMS WITH HIM FOR A ROOKIE MAX CONTRACT EXTENSION. IT’LL KICK IN AT THE START OF NEXT SEASON. FIVE YEARS, 239 MILLION COULD GO UP TO AS MUCH AS 287 MILLION IF HE HITS CERTAIN BENCHMARKS THIS SEASON. BUT THAT’S JUST THE START. YEAH, THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT IS JUST ONE WAY THIS FRANCHISE IS GOING ALL IN ON MR. P5. THE BIGGEST QUESTION CAN HE TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND GO FROM STAR TO SUPERSTAR? I THINK I’VE CHANGED A LOT JUST IN TERMS OF MY LEADERSHIP, HOW I APPROACH THE GAME NIGHT IN AND NIGHT OUT, HOW I APPROACH, YOU KNOW, BEING A GREAT TEAMMATE, A GREAT LEADER IN THIS LEAGUE. YOU KNOW, I THINK ME STILL FEELING LIKE I AM A YOUNG PLAYER. I FEEL LIKE I’M NOW TURNING INTO A YOUNG LEADER AND JUST SOMEONE THAT MY TEAMMATES CAN LOOK TO, MY COACHES CAN LOOK TO, TO ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, DEPEND ON AND KNOW THAT I’M GOING TO SHOW UP AND BE THERE. YOU KNOW. AND PAOLO WAS VERY YOUNG WHEN HE CAME TO ORLANDO ONE YEAR AT DUKE. HE DID TELL ME THE THING HE’S MOST PROUD OF SINCE COMING TO ORLANDO. HIS HOUSE BUILT A GREAT CUSTOM HOME. HE’S TAKEN A STEP. YOU CAN SEE THE MATURATION. HE’S GROWING UP RIGHT, RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES. COMING UP. STILL TO COME HERE ON COUNTDOWN TO TIPOFF. IT IS A SEASON OF CHANGE FOR THE ORLANDO MAGIC. NEW LOGOS FRESHING REFRESHING. GOING BACK TO THE PINSTRIPES. HOW THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO TITLE CONTENTION. THIS IS COUNTDOWN TO TIPOFF. I’M A CAT GUY. I DON’T DISLIKE DOGS. I WILL PET A DOG. I’LL PLAY WITH A DOG, I LIKE CATS, I’M ACTUALLY ALLERGIC TO CATS. I GUESS I’M A DOG PERSON. YEAH, I NEVER HAD CATS, BUT I’M NOT OPPOSED TO IT. I COULD SEE MYSELF GETTING DOGS THOUGH. DOG GUY I’M ALLERGIC TO CATS. DOG. I DON’T LIKE CATS. DOG PERSON GOT A NEW CRIB, GOT SOME SPACE. DOG. DAD SUCKS. DOG. DAD. JJ SUCKS. WELCOME BACK EVERYBODY. THIS IS COUNTDOWN TO TIP OFF THAT JUST A LITTLE TASTE OF THE PERSONALITIES THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW. COVERING THIS TEAM AND THE WAY THIS TEAM MESHES, THE WAY THEIR PERSONALITIES GO TOGETHER. WHAT MAKES THIS TEAM SO SPECIAL? YEAH. HOW THEY ARE IN THE LOCKER ROOM, OFF THE FLOOR, ON THE FLOOR. IT’S ALL IMPORTANT. THE CULTURE OF THIS TEAM HAS BEEN SO SPECIFICALLY BUILT BY THE FRONT OFFICE, AND GUYS LIKE JEFF WELTMAN AND JEFF THINKS THAT’S WHY THIS CULTURE, THE WAY THEY WORK, THE CEILING IS SO MUCH HIGHER FOR THIS TEAM THAN WE’VE SEEN YET. I’M GOING TO START IN A DIFFERENT PLACE THIS YEAR. PATIENCE. THE PATIENCE TO MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE OR THE PATIENCE TO WAIT AND MAYBE NOT MAKE. HOW DIFFICULT IS PATIENCE WHEN YOU’RE IN A SEASON LIKE THIS, WHEN YOU WANT TO BE A CONTENDER? I THINK THAT’S, YOU KNOW, LIKE ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT ELEMENTS OF TEAM BUILDING PATIENCE, DISCIPLINE, TIMING, RECOGNIZING WHEN YOU’RE READY TO TAKE CERTAIN JUMPS. I HOPE WE’VE MADE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. YOU KNOW, NOW. BUT THAT’S WHY WE GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS OF GETTING A LOT OF YOUNG GUYS THAT WE BELIEVE IN AND DEVELOPING THEM. THAT DEVELOPMENT ASPECT. HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO PROJECT WHEN YOU’RE SAYING, OH, WE’RE GOING TO WE’RE GOING TO SEE PAOLA TAKE THE NEXT DAY, WE’RE GOING TO SEE FRANZ BE BETTER. WE’RE NOT AT OUR BEST YET. HOW TOUGH IS THAT? I THINK AT THAT POINT YOU’RE BETTING ON PEOPLE, AND THAT’S WHAT WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO. WE LOOK AT THE PERSON AND, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE, I ALWAYS SAY, OF BEING A 22 YEAR OLD COMING BACK 23, OR A 28 YEAR OLD COMING BACK 29, WE EXPECT GROWTH AT THESE EARLY STAGES OF CAREER. IF YOU’RE ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS, YOU KNOW THAT’S WHAT WE’RE BETTING ON AND WE BELIEVE WE HAVE THE RIGHT GUYS TO BET ON. AND THAT’S WHY WE’RE EXCITED. HOW MUCH BETTER IS THIS TEAM NOW THAN THEY WERE A YEAR AGO? I THINK WE’RE GOING TO BE A LOT BETTER, BUT WE HAVE TO EARN THAT. YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THAT DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING. EVERY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE RIGHT NOW IS EXCITED ABOUT THEIR PROSPECTS. WE HAVE TO GO EARN IT. WE HAVE TO STACK DAYS. WE HAVE TO PUT THE WORK IN. WE HAVE TO STAY HEALTHY. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE LIFT ONE ANOTHER UP, AND HOPEFULLY WE RAMP UP AND ARE READY TO ATTACK WHEN IT MATTERS, YOU KNOW, IN THE SPRING AND THEN ENTERING THE PLAYOFFS, WE HEARD SOME DIFFERENT THINGS FROM YOU AT THE END OF THE SEASON THAT WE HADN’T HEARD, AT LEAST IN RECENT YEARS, ABOUT CONTENDING. AND HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT? WE WANTED TO TURN THE CORNER. AND I DO THINK THAT WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS BE GOOD LISTENERS, OUR YOUNG PLAYERS, WE ARE HEARING FROM THEM LIKE WE’RE READY INSTEAD OF LIKE RUNNING TWO RACES OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AND WINNING GAMES. IF YOU CAN HELP US WIN, IF YOU’RE THERE, YOU’LL FIND YOUR WAY ONTO THE COURT THIS YEAR. IT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU WORK TOWARDS. IT’S ONE MORE STEP IN THE PROCESS TOWARDS TRYING TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP, AND WE’RE EXCITED TO KIND OF BE AT THAT STEP NOW AS YOU SORT OF CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN, HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, EVEN IF IT’S THE SAME DISTANCE IN THEORY, HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IS IT TO MAKE THAT STEP FORWARD WHEN YOU’RE NOT AT THE BASE, STARTING THAT CLIMB, EVERY RUNG UP GETS HARDER TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP UP. NOW YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGHER THAT THE TEAMS THAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BEAT ARE BETTER, AND THEY’VE PROBABLY BEEN THERE LONGER. SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US. AND AGAIN, IT COMES DOWN TO CHARACTER, SACRIFICE AND TALENT AND FIT. AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT GROUP TO FIGURE IT OUT NOW. NOW IT’S ON THEM TO FIGURE IT OUT FOR THIS YEAR TO BE A SUCCESS, WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN? WE NEED TO BE HEALTHY. I’VE BEEN ASKED THE QUESTION A LOT. YOU KNOW, THE OPENNESS OF THE EAST. IS THAT WHY YOU KIND OF PUSHED YOUR CHIPS UP THIS YEAR? AND THE ANSWER IS NO, BECAUSE LIKE, THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE INJURIES. THE TEAMS THAT HAVE SUCCESS, THE TEAMS THAT HAVE DEEP PLAYOFF RUNS, THE FIRST THING THAT THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON IS HEALTH. AND SO THAT’S THAT’S MY BIGGEST WISH. BEYOND THAT, I’LL BET ON US TO FIGURE IT OUT. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THE MAGIC ARE DOING. THEY’RE BETTING ON THIS GROUP TO FIGURE IT OUT. BUT YEAH, HEALTH A HUGE PART OF IT. WE SAW IT IN THE EAST ALL LAST YEAR, AND THIS YEAR IT’S WIDE OPEN. AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE INJURY BUG IS GOING TO BITE YOU. SO I THINK IT’S REALLY INTERESTING WHAT JEFF WELTMAN SAID THERE. HE’S NOT LOOKING AT THE INJURIES. THEY’RE GOING TO COME. THEY’RE GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT HE’S BETTING ON THIS TEAM TO ADJUST IF THEY DO. ALL RIGHT. LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS COMING UP. WE STILL HAVE TO GET TO OUR BOLD PREDICTIONS. WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. 82 GAMES OF CHAOS AND A PLAYOFF SEASON AHEAD. WE ARE LIVE FROM THE ADVENTHEALTH TRAINING TRAINING CENTER IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO. GETTING YOU SET FOR A NEW SEASON OF MAGIC BASKETBALL. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. WELCOME BACK. LIVE TO THE ADVENTHEALTH TRAINING CENTER, DOWNTOWN ORLANDO. THE ORLANDO MAGIC GETTING SET FOR A NEW SEASON. KRISTEN, IF WE KNOW ANYTHING, IT’S THAT AN 82 GAME SEASON IN THE PLAYOFFS IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE. SO WHAT BETTER WAY TO END THE SHOW THAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN? SO MY BOLD PREDICTION FOR THIS UPCOMING SEASON BEWARE OF PAOLO AND FRIENDS. THIS IS A MAGIC DUO THAT SET A RECORD 11 CONSECUTIVE GAMES, SCORING 20 PLUS POINTS LAST SEASON. IF THEY STAY HEALTHY, I THINK THE MAGIC GO FROM ZERO ALL STARS LAST YEAR TO TWO NEXT YEAR. THAT MAY NOT BE THAT BOLD. KRISTEN. I’M JUST SAYING IT A LITTLE SAFE. I’M GOING TO GO BOLD. I DON’T KNOW IF I’M SAFE SAYING THIS BECAUSE WE’RE IN THE MAGIC PRACTICE FACILITY, BUT I THINK THEY’RE GOING TO BE IN CONTENTION FOR THE EAST. I’M GOING TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE RAT POISON, BUT I’M ALSO GOING TO REIN IT BACK IN. I DON’T THINK THIS IS THE YEAR THEY WIN THE FINALS. I DON’T THINK THIS IS THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON, BUT I THINK WE’RE REALLY CLOSE IN. A FEW THINGS FALL A CERTAIN WAY. I DON’T THINK THEY’RE GOING TO GET THE TOP SEED IN THE EAST, BUT I THINK THEY’RE GOING TO BE RIGHT THERE. AND ONCE YOU GET INTO THE POSTSEASON RAIN ON THEIR PARADE, WELL, I SAID THEY’RE GOING TO MAKE IT TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS. THAT’S PRETTY GOOD. 15 YEARS SINCE THE LAST PLAYOFF SERIES, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REAL EASY TO JUST SAY, HEY, THEY’RE GOING TO WIN ONE PLAYOFF SERIES. YOU’RE RIGHT, YOU’RE RIGHT. I’LL TAKE YOUR BOLD PREDICTION. ALL RIGHT. COMING UP, THE MAGIC TO MAKE THEIR RETURN TO THE WESH TWO AIRWAVES THIS SEASON THREE TIMES. AT THE VERY LEAST, WE WILL SEE THE MAGIC ON WESH TWO. ALL THREE ARE ROAD GAMES. AND WE WILL BRING YOU COUNTDOWN TO TIP OFF PREGAME SHOWS FROM ATLANTA, PHILADELPHIA AND CLEVELAND. THOSE DATES ON YOUR SCREEN. TUESDAYS ARE GOING TO BE FUN IN THE NEXT SEASON AHEAD. ALL RIGHT, KRISTEN, AS WE GET SET FOR A NEW SEASON ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW, THEY OPEN THE YEAR AT HOME AGAINST THE MIAMI HEAT. WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED TO SEE? I THINK JUST THE DESIRE TO WIN PLAY OUT ON THE COURT. I’M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE PUZZLE PIECES LOOK LIKE TOGETHER AND YOU KNOW WHAT TO SPEND TUESDAYS WITH. ALL OF YOU. CAN’T WAIT TO SEE BANE TAKE THE FLOOR. I’M JUST SAYING IT’S GOING TO BE FUN. ALL RIGHT, FOR KRISTEN ZACH, OUR PHOTOJOURNALIST ON SCENE. EVERYBODY BACK IN WINTER PARK, THANKS FOR HANGING OUT WITH US. IT’S BEEN TOUGH NOT TO TIP OFF. A NEW SEASON I
Watch Countdown to Tip-Off | An Orlando Magic special from WESH 2 Sports
Updated: 8:14 PM EDT Oct 14, 2025
Watch Countdown to Tip-Off, an Orlando Magic special from WESH 2 Sports in the video player above.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Watch Countdown to Tip-Off, an Orlando Magic special from WESH 2 Sports in the video player above.