Orlando Magic: Top 5 performers from standout start
By Luke Duffy
4. D.J. Augustin
Point guard D.J. Augustin came into this season unsure of his future with this team as a result of Shelvin Mack coming over from the Utah Jazz in the offseason.
Between Mack and starting floor general Elfrid Payton, the possibility of Augustin getting squeezed out existed, especially after posting 7.9 points and 2.7 assists in 19.7 minutes in what was a disappointing first season with the team.
However, an injury to Payton means he’s had to start two of their four games so far, and Augustin has rebounded in a big way. In 23.8 minutes he is putting up 12 points per game (career average of 9.6 per game) and 5.8 assists (career average of 3.8).
He is doing so while shooting an outrageous 54.2 percent from distance. This number will drop, but it has been a key to the Magic’s hot start offensively.
When he returns to the bench, Augustin will once again provide offensive juice and a steady hand for the second unit — exactly what he has been doing while with the starting unit.
It’s been a really impressive beginning to his sophomore season in Orlando, and one that essentially no one saw coming, which adds to the feel-good factor surrounding this team right now.