By John Denton July 2, 2016
ORLANDO – Busy trying to transition to facing the stronger and more mature players at the professional level, Orlando Magic rookie Stephen Zimmerman never fully realized the magnitude of the moment during Saturday’s first-day action of the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League.
“During the game I was kind of focused on that (on-court action), but after someone just walked up to me and asked, `Did it hit you that that was your first (NBA) game?”’ Zimmerman said. “I don’t think it has (hit him) yet, but it’s a great thing and hopefully I’m here for a while.”
Zimmerman, the 41st pick of last week’s NBA Draft, couldn’t fully savor Saturday’s start to his NBA career because the Magic’s Blue squad got thumped 93-66 by the Indiana Pacers. The 7-footer finished with just seven points, four rebounds and two blocked shots in 23 minutes, but he deemed the day a success because he battled through his mid-day jitters and proved himself against competition much older and more experienced than himself.
“For his first pro basketball game, I thought Stephen was tremendous,” said Blue coach Chad Forcier, who was hired recently by the Magic to be head coach Frank Vogel’s top assistant. “I thought he showed some great skill and some great competitiveness on both ends of the court. I’m excited to see him keep getting experience this week.”
The Magic are banking on the 6-foot-11, 234-pound Zimmerman improving dramatically over the next couple of years. Just 19 years old, Zimmerman knows that he needs a lot more weight and strength to hold his own on the low block where the bigger man often succeeds.
Zimmerman spent just one season at UNLV before deeming himself ready for the NBA and declaring for the NBA Draft. He averaged 10.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 26.2 minutes per game this past season. Even though he is likely still a long way away from being a rotational player in the NBA, Zimmerman felt he was ready to take on the challenge of playing on basketball’s biggest stage.
“I know I’m young and everything, but why not come here and learn from the older guys and get bigger and stronger with the best in the business?” Zimmerman said. “That was the key for me.”
If Zimmerman was nervous on Saturday, he didn’t show it early on. He made his first three baskets – twice on cutting layups and a dunk. His third basket of the game gave Orlando a 15-14 lead – what proved to be its final advantage in a game that grew increasingly lopsided in the second half.
“A big thing for me is always finishing around the rim early,” said the center, who earned the start in his first pro game. “That was a good way to warm everybody up and get everybody relaxed. Throughout the game I didn’t really keep that up, but I’m not going to force shots or anything. That’s just how the game unfolded.”
Regardless of how this week plays out, Zimmerman knows that it will be incumbent for him to use the rest of the summer to improve both his game and his body. Part of the Magic’s allure in drafting him is that they feel that he will grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years and he’ll be a much better at 20 and 21 than he is now as a 19-year-old project.
“I’ve got to work on my body and get bigger and stronger. I’m only 19 and it’s only going to come naturally, but being in the weight room and eating healthy, those are things on my list right now,” Zimmerman said. “It’s something for everybody to keep getting better as you get older. The big thing, for me, is getting my body bigger and stronger.”
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