'Very Good' Orlando Magic Rookie Jett Howard Joining Osceola G League Affiliate
The Orlando Magic has designated rookie wing Jett Howard to play with the team's G League affiliate in Osceola for the time being.
Howard was the No. 11 overall pick in this past NBA Draft but has only appeared in five of the Magic's first 13 games. After averaging a mere 4.6 minutes per contest, Howard should get the chance to play extended minutes in Osceola and help his development.
"Jett's been very good," Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley said. "He's staying in the gym getting his extra work and studying the film with the coaches on where he can continue to improve and get better, and he's just maturing more. He's doing a great job with this group of learning the system and understanding what exactly you need from him every time he's ready to step on the court."
Orlando Magic rookie Jett Howard will spend some time with the organization's G League affiliate in Osceola after seeing limited minutes to open his NBA career.
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When the Magic drafted Howard, the hope was that he would be a strong scoring option for the team in the near future after being a one-and-done player for the Michigan Wolverines, who was also a member of the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
As a freshman, Howard scored 14.2 points per game while playing through ankle injuries. Now that Howard is going down to the G League, he should get a chance to showcase the scoring ability that got him drafted so highly.
In Osceola, Howard will join two of the best scorers in the entire G League, Mac McClung and Brandon Williams. McClung is the league's second-leading scorer with an average of 29.5 points per game, while Williams is No. 13 at 24.3 points per game.
After starting the season 0-2, the G League Magic has won the past two games, with McClung leading the team in scoring during its past two games and helping erase a 26-point hole in the second half of its last game thanks to his 44 points.
A stint in Osceola could be just what it takes for Howard to display the improvements he's made in the NBA despite playing limited minutes in a crowded rotation.
Osceola's next game is tonight on the road against the Houston Rockets affiliate, the 2-1 Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
