Jase Richardson’s Summer League run kept rolling in Las Vegas, and the Orlando Magic guard was at the center of it again as his team picked up its third straight win. After dropping their opener to the Charlotte Hornets on July 9, Orlando has now won three in a row to move to 3-1, with Richardson setting the tone in the latest victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Richardson finished with 25 points, knocking down 10 of 15 shots from the field and 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. He didn’t just fill it up, either - he also handled the postgame spotlight and broke down what he thought was working for Orlando.
“I think defensive energy and we were sharing the ball,” Richardson said when asked what he liked about how Orlando played in the first half. “I think we're all just having a good time out there.
You know, guys were enjoying it. We're getting great looks, having a fun time.
So, I think that was the biggest thing for us in the first half.”
The second-year guard also pointed to the areas he wants to clean up as he keeps building his game.
“I think just being able to control the floor,” Richardson said. “I mean, end of the game, I had a lot of uncharacteristic turnovers.
So, that's on me. Going forward, I've got to take care of the ball.
But other than that, I feel like I've been setting guys up for good shots. You know, getting to my own shots and then defending.”
Richardson is entering his second season with a new head coach in Sean Sweeney, who was officially named to the job on June 1. Richardson said he knows the type of player Sweeney wants him to be.
“A guy that's just a dog that's ready to work,” Richardson said. “A guy that hounds guys defensively. You know, can knock down the shot and make plays for others.”
Orlando got more than just Richardson’s scoring in the win. The other four starters all finished in double figures, and Noah Penda added 10 points, three blocks and a steal in 29 minutes. Richardson and Penda were both part of the Magic’s 2025 draft class, and Richardson said he’s already seen Penda take real steps.
“I think so far, just what I've seen from him is his defense,” Richardson said. “I mean, the guy can guard one through five, and it's really impressive what he can do at his size.
And then offensively, I mean, he's gotten a lot better. I think this summer he really took a step forward on his game offensively.
You know, he's shooting the three ball more confidently. So, you know, props to Noah and all the work he's done.”
Once Summer League wraps, Richardson already has his next focus mapped out. He said he plans to head back to Orlando and keep working, with a possible summer workout in Texas alongside Desmond also on the table.
“Going back to Orlando,” Richardson said about his plans following Summer League. “I think going back, just staying home and, you know, working out.
And then, you know, possibly working out with Desmond in the summer in Texas. So, you know, just trying to get work with Des, work with my vets, so work out with my teammates.”
In Other News...
Sean Sweeney Just Revealed What He Believes This Magic Team Lacks
Sean Sweeneys candidacy for the Magics head coaching job has already gone deep enough to tell you something about how seriously Orlando is approaching this search. His interview stretched for 9.5 hours, and since then he has begun connecting with key players while laying out the kind of system he thinks can move the roster forward, one built around pace, spacing and getting all five players involved more consistently.
For a team that has leaned on defense while searching for a cleaner offensive identity, Sweeneys pitch is aimed right at the balance Orlando wants to strike. He is expected to bring an elite defensive standard with him, but the bigger question is whether his ideas can help the Magic generate quicker, better shots and turn more of their talent into a more efficient attack. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Big Man Is Making Summer League Hard To Ignore
The Las Vegas Summer League has given Orlando a closer look at one of its big men, and he has made the defensive end a clear part of his pitch. He has talked about the chemistry building with teammates and coaches during the summer grind, while also embracing the competition that comes with every possession in this setting.
For him, the larger picture is still about earning trust and carving out a place with the Magic, even as the work extends beyond Orlando. He also has a personal international goal in mind, with a family connection to Panama pushing him toward a chance to represent the country next summer. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Final Roster Spot Could Reveal Orlandos Real Offseason Intentions
The Magic have spent most of the offseason protecting the shape of their roster rather than overhauling it, keeping Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane at the center of the plan while making only modest moves in free agency. With the core intact, the final roster spot has started to matter more than it usually would, because it may say a lot about what Orlando still thinks it needs before camp opens.
The names in the mix point to the same question from different angles. Orlando could look at low-cost options such as Jalen Richards, Jett Howard or Keon Pickett, with shooting and frontcourt depth both in play as priorities. Howards case is especially interesting after a season that showed some progress from deep, while Pickett brings a different kind of backcourt fit after his option was declined in Denver. [Read more 🡒]