When the Orlando Magic opened training camp, head coach Jamahl Mosley said rookie Caleb Houstan would begin as a floor spacer and positional defender to start the season.
Houstan is proving to be more than that in the early going.
The 32nd pick produced his best game of the preseason on Tuesday with 13 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in a win against the Memphis Grizzlies. He went 5-of-6 from the field, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, in 19 minutes off the bench.
He worked, as most rookies do, throughout much of the offseason on adjusting to the longer 3-point line in the NBA. He shot 35.5% from beyond the arc last season at Michigan, which is a good percentage, but he wanted to improve that and get better this year.
Terrence Ross can see that work paying off.
He had a couple of big-time offensive rebounds last game and some really good spot-up 3-point shots. He is active on defense and that is always good to see. I’ve been shooting with him every day — that boy can shoot. A lot of guys struggle with that shot coming into the league, the college 3 compared to the NBA 3 a little bit but he has come a long way.
Jalen Suggs and Caleb Houstan among the Magic players shooting after practice today pic.twitter.com/CO9r5vh5vw
— Cody Taylor (@CodyTaylorNBA) October 13, 2022
The shooting has been evident throughout training camp. He previously earned high praise from Cole Anthony and Ross is the latest to take notice. It has resulted in the team having confidence in him to knock down those shots.
The recipe for success, Houstan said, is quite simple.
I just try to come in every day, work hard and just try to find my spots and try to get open. It is really them making the plays and them just finding me so I just try to hit shots and give them the confidence to find me.
Houstan came off the bench and drained some timely 3s for the Magic on Tuesday, but it was more than that ability that stood out to Mosley. The team has raved about his IQ and awareness on the court, and that often results in him being in the right place on both ends.
It is the little things that stand out to Mosley.
He did a great job, not just his on-ball defense, weak side defense and ability to knock down shots, but the thing that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is his ability to crash the glass and his off-ball movement. He does a great job moving without the basketball and that’s what we’re asking our guys to do this year. He did a fantastic job of that.
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley commended Caleb Houstan for his rebounding and cutting versus the Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/PWAoqNTHcK
— Cody Taylor (@CodyTaylorNBA) October 13, 2022
Houstan knows the upcoming season will present its fair share of challenges as a first-year player. With so many players ahead of him on the depth chart, playing time could be sporadic, but the 19-year-old is prepared to work through any adversity that comes to him.
He is showing what he can bring to the team on a nightly basis through the first four preseason games. If he can do that on a consistent basis, Houstan could soon find himself in the rotation.
Orlando wraps up the preseason on Friday with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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