Wendell Carter Jr. Believes in Magic’s Ability to Make Deep Playoff Run
Wendell Carter Jr. knows the Orlando Magic has what it takes to beat the very best teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Magic have been up and down all season long, and they’re currently in eighth place in the Eastern Conference entering Wednesday night’s play with a 43-36 record. On the positive end of the spectrum, Orlando is on a three-game winning streak and just defeated the best team in the East, the Detroit Pistons (without Cade Cunningham), on Monday night.
Orlando is looking to clinch its third consecutive playoff appearance this season, which features largely the same core in Carter, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs. The only new major addition is Desmond Bane.
The Magic are looking to escape the first round for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Carter said the biggest key for Orlando is to remain healthy, as they’ve rarely had their starting five intact this season.
“I would say that, and the fact that from the first guy to the 15th guy on and off the court. we all rock with each other,” said Carter in a one-on-one interview with R.org. “It’s rare that you see that in this league. But from what I’ve seen and what I’ve been around with this team, every guy rocks with one another. That’s very important. That means we go out there on that battlefield and will do whatever for the next person. I think with the talent and the togetherness, that’s why I feel like we can beat anybody in this league.”
Celtics are Team to Beat in East
The Eastern Conference is currently stacked at the top with the Pistons leading the way — Cunningham is indefinitely out due to a collapsed lung — and the Boston Celtics look reinvigorated with Jayson Tatum back in the lineup. Furthermore, the New York Knicks are still around, and the Cleveland Cavaliers have hit another gear since acquiring James Harden.
Carter believes the Celtics are the team to beat right now in the East. They’re currently second in the conference. Boston has a 12-2 record since Tatum made his season debut. The Magic lost to the Celtics in five games in the first round last season.
“I think it’ll be Boston, yeah, but Boston has put together a really impressive year without Tatum,” said Carter of the Celtics. “And now Tatum’s back is still playing at a high level. It’s gonna be tough to beat that team in a seven-game series for sure.”
Staying Healthy, Future Goals
It’s hard to believe, but Carter is a fully established veteran at this stage of his career. The 6-foot-10 center will be 27 years old this month but is already on the verge of completing his eighth season. He holds an important role on the Magic as the team’s starting center, averaging 12.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while starting 75 of the team’s 79 games this season.
His 75 games played are the second-highest on the team and a career high for Carter.
“One of my biggest goals going into this year was being available,” said Carter. “If I finish out the season, I will have played in 78 games. This year was the highest I’ve ever played in. I think the next step for me is just being more consistent throughout all those games. That’s really about it.”
When asked where one area he would like to improve, Carter said it’s on the offensive end.
“I think being more consistent on the offensive end,” said Carter. “I think being more reliable, whether that’s making more shots, being more aggressive, my frame, my body.”
The former seventh overall pick in the draft said another objective of his is to clinch an All-Star bid, along with being the Most Improved Player of the Year. Carter is still seeking his first all-league accolade.
“Yeah, I definitely think All Star is very possible,” said Carter. “I think that’s something I’m definitely striving for. Most Improved Player is another thing that I can taste and possibly go get in the future. Those two things in terms of accolades and things I think that I can go get.”
Carter said even though he didn’t grow up in the Hakeem Olajuwon era, the Houston Rockets center is the top player he looked up to.
“It’s a mixture of a lot of guys,” said Carter. “When growing up, my favorite player was Hakeem Olajuwon. He wasn’t playing as I was growing up, but my dad just showed me film and clips of them all the time because he was his favorite player. DeMarcus Cousins was one of the guys I also looked up to. I love the way that he played Anthony Davis, guys like that.”
The veteran center said he actually knows and has talked to Cousins, a former four-time All-Star big man. He said he’ll seek his advice this offseason.
“He’s one of those guys, I’m gonna definitely reach out to him this summer,” said Carter. “I want to get in the gym with him at some point. I know he’s overseas right now, but whenever he comes back, I’m gonna try to get in the gym with him.”
Carter said one of the biggest things he’s taken from Cousins his continuing to “stay aggressive.”
“Not directly, I think more so indirectly,” said Carter of what he’s learned from Cousins. “Just continue to stay aggressive, be that anchor for the team. Those are kind of the two biggest things I kind of took away from what I’ve heard from him.”
An “Anchor” for Orlando
He considers his role on this current Magic team, led by stars such as Banchero and Wagner, to be an “anchor” on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
“Just ever since I even got to this team, I think is just being that anchor on both sides of the ball — rebounding, defending, setting screens together, getting guys open,” said Carter. “On top of all that, I’m also able to score the ball. I think just kind of being a jack of all trades for this team, kind of the glue, kind of the guy that holds it all together. I think that’s what I’ve established as my identity for this Magic organization over the years.”
Carter — who is actually the second-oldest member of the starting lineup — said he considers himself to be a leader.
“For sure,” said Carter. “I feel like I do a little bit of it all when it comes to leadership. I lead with my voice. I lead by example, I’m one of the hardest workers. I was telling this team, ‘First one at the gym, last one to leave.’ Getting extra work, extra recovery, whatever the case may be. I think I do it on both sides.”