The Orlando Magic missed the playoffs for five straight seasons, ranked last in home attendance, and stood on the brink of a rebuild. In the 2024 draft, they used the fifth pick to select Gonzaga point guard Kyle Carter. At 1.93 meters tall with a 2.08-meter wingspan, the lanky guard was criticized for “hogging the ball and having questionable defensive effort.” But he had grown up in an Orlando housing project, idolized Penny Hardaway, and had to have his pastor pool money to buy his draft suit. He vowed to turn the team around, only to be laughed at.
At training camp, veteran Marcus Jones treated him coldly. Early in the regular season, Kyle averaged 18 points but only 4 assists, and often made crucial mistakes. Coach Walker kept him on the bench, and Kyle once slammed a board after a disagreement over tactics. The team won only six of its first twenty games, but Walker stuck to his plan to develop Kyle, working with him privately and teaching him the importance of teamwork.
Against the Heat, Marcus tore a ligament and was ruled out for the season. His final words spurred Kyle into action. Kyle took only eight shots but dished out 15 assists in a comeback victory. From then on, he orchestrated the offense and helped center White and sharpshooter Li shine, leading the team to eighth place in the Eastern Conference and a playoff berth.
In the first round against the Bucks, after falling behind two games, Kyle led his team to a buzzer-beating win and advanced after a Game Seven victory. In the semifinals against the Celtics, he found a way through the defense of his idol, George, and won another Game Seven. In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Nets, he played through injury to force a Game Seven and win the series. In the Finals against the Lakers, with the Magic down 1–3, Kyle put up 32 points, 11 assists, and 5 steals in Game Six. In the final two minutes of Game Seven, he assisted a teammate to take the lead, and the Magic won the championship.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Amway Center erupted. Kyle clutched Marcus’s jersey and wept. The team that had once been written off had rekindled the fires of championship glory through the power of teamwork.
