<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>ORLANDO, Fla. ? For a third-year player, Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson is starting to look a lot like a seasoned team captain.On his own this summer, Nelson arranged for his teammates to meet for a week in Philadelphia. Minus Dwight Howard, who was playing with the U.S. national team, and a few others, the new squad hung out, went bowling and even played paintball, Nelson said Monday before the Magic were to begin training camp."One day I was just working out, and I was like, 'You know, I should make my team a commitment as I try to become a leader and bring these guys up.' Because obviously, if you're better off the court you're going to be better on the court," he said. "It was a good week. It was almost like we were kids again, and that's what you want. You don't want this to be strictly business and not to have fun for what we do."Plenty of faces remain the same, but the Magic are a much different team this year than last, and not just because Nelson has overtaken the starting point guard job since Orlando dealt Steve Francis to the Knicks in February. Guard Carlos Arroyo and post man Darko Milicic will figure prominently in the rotation after contributing to a season-ending winning streak that nearly landed the Magic in the playoffs last season.They've also added former Duke sharpshooter and first round draft pick J.J. Redick and guard Keith Bogans, and lost defensive specialist DeShawn Stevenson.Still around, and by all accounts healthy entering the season, is Grant Hill, who has scarcely played in six injury-plagued seasons with Orlando. Hill will be somewhat limited during training camp, perhaps only participating in one of the Magic's two practice sessions each day.The team is still anchored by Howard, who finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds (second in the league) last year, but Nelson has emerged as an offensive spark plug.The college consensus player of the year at St. Joseph's in 2004, Nelson fell to the 20th pick amid concerns his 6-foot height wasn't good enough for the NBA. He responded with a nine-point, three-assist average, landing him on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. After Francis was dealt to New York, Nelson averaged 5.5 assists per game last season."His leadership has always been there, and him showing his leadership, you'll see a little bit more and more as he matures," Magic general manager Otis Smith said.Hill said the difference in this year's team is noticeable."We got a bunch of guys, I've said it, we've got character," he said. "And maybe we've had characters in the past, but now we have character, and it's important. I think any winning organization, any winning team has that."Nelson already has two new players to welcome to Orlando. On Monday the club announced it had signed undrafted free agents Jackie Manuel (North Carolina) and Kasib Powell (Texas Tech).</div>http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared-gen...gic_Nelson.html
I like this, Jameer Nelson is showing that you don't have to be an old veteran to be a leader. He is a natural born leader, and I think him doing things to get the Magic to bond outside of the court will carry over to the court. Everyone will be much more comfortable with each other, and have more faith in each other on the court. I am loving the enthusiasm and excitement that Jameer Nelson brings to the team and hope to keep him in Orlando for a very long time.
Great guy, small, tough player whos a real leader. I have a good feeling about the Magic this year, with Jameer, Howard, and Reddick, who knows, they might even get to the playoffs.
