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Orlando Magic: Top 3 performers of the 2019-20 season

By Luke Duffy

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: Evan Fournier #10 celebrates with Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic after shooting a three point basket against the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: Evan Fournier #10 celebrates with Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic after shooting a three point basket against the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

3. Steve Clifford

Make what you will of head coach Steve Clifford taking a spot on this list, because it is both a bad thing and a good thing. From a negative perspective, outside of a couple of players nobody really stepped up in a big way this year. Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon had brief moments, but they were just that. Brief.

Jonathan Isaac seemed primed to top this list to start the year, but a knee sprain on New Year’s Day, before the dreaded ACL tear only three games after returning when he looked like a defensive beast, means he didn’t play enough games during periods that mattered to warrant consideration. The Magic also had most of their best stretches of play during the season with Isaac out.

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Which is where coach Clifford comes in. Despite having a clearly limited roster, he has managed to forge a real defensive identity for this organization that was established early last season and has persevered for much of his tenure in charge. There aren’t many places where Michael Carter-Williams could thrive right now, but he has in Orlando.

Coach Clifford knows how to get the best out of him defensively so that he can be a difference-maker off the bench. Which he is. Khem Birch too is a role player of a center, who has been so important to the Magic for a couple of years now. How Clifford uses him, combined with his own energy, is the reason he has stuck with the Magic.

Even adding somebody like James Ennis III, who has bounced around the league, proved a great choice once he was paired with Clifford. Ennis III himself could have snuck onto this list, but he played only 20 regular season games before entering the bubble. Nevertheless once in the rotation, he provided a toughness that has been missing throughout the roster.

The defensive mind of Clifford not only has given these role players a home and some value in the league, but it has also ensured that the Magic will continue to have that identity to build around. To have done this without Isaac and Mohamed Bamba as well is really impressive, and despite the campaign ending on a bum note, Clifford had a lot to do with the good periods in the year.

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