Bogans shows true colors By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted October 6, 2003 LAKE BUENA VISTA -- No wonder Orlando Magic rookie guard Keith Bogans looked so comfortable Sunday: The blue jerseys were scrimmaging the white jerseys. Jack Givens said Bogans merely was at home, surrounded by his old Kentucky Wildcats colors, and Givens -- the former UK legend -- should know. "Keith plays better when the lights come on," said Givens, the Magic's TV analyst who worked as an assistant coach in training camp. "Hey, he's from Kentucky." After an up-and-down week of practice, Bogans roared out in the Magic's season-ticket holder scrimmage at Disney's Wide World of Sports and scored 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting. "Keith's a gamer," Magic Coach Doc Rivers said of Bogans. "He rises to the occasion. That's what you want. "And from the first day, you could see he didn't have those goo-goo eyes." At 6 feet 5, 215 pounds, Bogans doesn't look to be a candidate for intimidation. He played for a big-time program, struggled so much that he pulled out of the 2001 NBA draft and then recovered to lead Kentucky to 18 consecutive wins his senior season. He's as seasoned as NBA rookies can be these days. "That's just me. Intimidation does not play a part. I just go play," Bogans said. And for the past week, his introduction to the NBA has included daily schooling sessions against fellow shooting guard Tracy McGrady. If he can survive matchups with McGrady, he can hold his own on regular-season nights. McGrady praised Bogans after the scrimmage, pleasantly surprised at his development. Bogans admitted that in his first camp matchups against McGrady that he did get a little starry-eyed. "I said to myself, 'I'm guarding Tracy out there?' He'll make me better, I know that," he said. When Bogans slid into the second round of the draft, the Magic made a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks for him. The slight has motivated him. Bogans led the Blue team of rookies, free agents and bench players over the stacked White team 66-55. Drew Gooden led all scorers with 21 points, showing newfound range in hitting 8 of 11 shots. Gooden started for the White team, along with McGrady (5 points), Gordan Giricek (13), Juwan Howard (6) and Tyronn Lue (2). Forward Alton Ford, a 275-pound free agent who has been impressive, scored 14 points and had seven rebounds. Guard Shammond Williams scored 10, and he looks to have a backup guard spot sewn up. Center Steven Hunter added five points and nine rebounds. These calisthenics only can provide snapshots. Rivers described the first 15-minute half as "horrific," but later was encouraged. The varsity moved the ball around better after intermission, although McGrady took just three shots in all. The Magic finished their six-day camp looking to work in as many as seven new players. They have added more scoring options beyond McGrady and often are running what was once exclusively a perimeter offense through the low post. Of course, they may need the extra points if the defense remains suspect. "We're far from being a good team," Rivers said. "But we will be."
