The Magic Insider

Magic's Wendell Carter Jr. Reflects on 'Tough' Season

Wendell Carter Jr. dealt with injuries and challenges during his fourth season with the Orlando Magic.

Jeremy Brener

Apr 30, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) drives to the
Apr 30, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) drives to the / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
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ORLANDO — Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. had many ups and downs during the season.

The sixth-year pro missed nearly 30 games this season with injuries to his hand and knee, and his confidence was shaken.

"It was tough," Carter said about the season. "And then it got to a point where I was doubting myself a little bit. Just being honest with it, but it was tough. It was tough. I think a lot of people were outside this facility who was able to help me encourage me and keep me going because it got to a point where I just felt like I wasn't good enough. But on the flip side of that, the fact that I was able to come back from that to help our team get to the playoffs and do what we did in the playoffs ... I'm happy that I was able to do that for this team."

Carter broke his hand on Nov. 2, just a week or so into the season, and that kept him out of the rotation for a while. The Magic flew up the standings as Carter watched from the sidelines happy for his team's success but frustrated that he could only watch. When he returned, he wasn't able to produce as much as he had in the past.

This season, Carter averaged 11 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, both lows since he joined the Magic in 2021, but he still made an impact defensively. With the rise of Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero, Carter took on a new role.

Now with a full offseason ahead, Carter can take the time to get his body and mind right in order to keep the Magic among the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

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Jeremy Brener

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.