LAS VEGAS — The Orlando Magic open NBA Summer League 2026 play against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with summer league coach D.J. Bakker demanding second-year point guard Jase Richardson run the show and USF product Izaiyah Nelson making his summer league debut.
“We had a great camp. Great work habits. I love the energy and excitement to come here and play and compete … (The guys all) have a competitive characteristic about themselves,” Bakker said. “We’re excited to be here, keep building and keep working. We have a lot of time out here. I’m excited to have this group. I like their mindset and approach.”
Bakker, working under Magic head coach Sean Sweeney, singled out the 6-foot-1 Richardson as the player he expects to lead on the floor. “Number one with me is his leadership,” Bakker said. “He’s an extension of me on the court. He has great IQ, great confidence. He knows his teammates well, so he does a great job of putting players in different spots. He knows where their strengths are, and he gets them playing to that. You feel really confident with him out on the court. I like how he carries himself and I love his communication. He’s got great IQ and feel for the game. I’m excited to go through these games with him.”
Noah Penda, who showed flashes as a disruptive defender last season, has drawn attention from both coaches and teammates after an intersquad scrimmage against the Toronto Raptors. Richardson said Penda’s offseason work is showing. “He’s able to shuffle his feet a little bit faster with smaller guys now,” Richardson said with a smile. “He’s looking more agile. Noah’s great defensively. He’s been a pest. He can guard one through five. He’s a big body. He can rebound. And then, he gets our offense going in transition.”
Bakker echoed the assessment. “He’s a great competitor,” Bakker said of Penda. “He has great physicality, he knows how to use his physicality and he likes physicality. So, he has all the makeup of what a great defender is. You really appreciate his defensive versatility. He can guard smalls, he can obviously guard wings, and he can switch onto the bigs as well. He wants those matchups. He wants to know who the key players are on the other team, the top scorer, and he wants those one-on-one matchups. He wants to take on that challenge.”
Thursday’s game will also mark the first summer league contest for Nelson, the 6-foot-10 rookie out of USF. “The things that’s consistent with him is his fight, his toughness and his talk,” Bakker said. “He has a very impressive motor. He likes to fight and he likes to (use) his physicality. He understands what his role is on both sides of the floor. He had great rim protection, not good rim protection, great rim protection (today against Toronto). He does a great job of running the floor and screening as well. He’s a competitor … Great eye contact, great engagement, and very coachable. First impressions with him have been very impressive.”
The matchup against Charlotte will air on Prime Video, with the Magic carrying multiple remaining games in Las Vegas to continue evaluating their young roster.