Tristan da Silva stepped up for Magic throughout up-and-down rookie
Tristan da Silva’s rookie year was filled with firsts.
He made his NBA debut opening night at Miami, scored his very first points a week later on at Cleveland and made his very first start just 2 days after that.
Possibly all of it occurred faster than expected for the No. 18 choice, however the Colorado graduate had no choice but to step up for the Magic after injuries sustained by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in the first half of the season.
“You never ever know what can occur, and that took place right off the jump,” da Silva said just recently about his brand-new life in the NBA. “All of a sudden I was playing a lot.
“There’s a great deal of ups and downs, a great deal of unanticipated turns,” he added.
The rookie, who turned 24 earlier this week, was available in as a more refined possibility with four years of college under his belt. It’s why Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley felt comfy turning to the 6-foot-8 wing to help fill the gaps in times of requirement.
Da Silva averaged 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists throughout 22 minutes throughout 74 games, 38 of which he began. A 39% shooter from 3-point range his last two years of college, da Silva shot 33.5% his very first season for the Magic.
He was among simply 13 novices to play in 70-plus contests.
“It’s certainly a whole new deal,” he stated. “You’ve never ever played that numerous games before in your life, traveled that much and been exposed to so many things all at once. So at some time in the season– you can call it a rookie wall or whatever you want– there’s certainly a moment throughout the season where you feel tired physically and mentally, and the genuine obstacle is digging through that and making certain that you’re coming out on the other end.
“And that’s what I made with the focus on work and relying on the procedure,” he added.
That procedure wasn’t always uncomplicated.
The rookie fell out of Orlando’s beginning lineup after Wagner went back to the court in late January however remained in the rotation throughout much of the second half of the season.
By the end, however, da Silva wasn’t on the court as much.
“It was tough, for sure,” he said. “However I have actually constantly had an excellent supporting cast around me that help me a lot, specifically in times where I was type of having problem with it.
“Essentially, it was always about the work that you put in and the process that you commit to,” he added. “I tried to commit to that as much as I could which certainly helped me take my mind off things and simply concentrate on improving each and every single day.”
Improving this offseason is likewise a goal for da Silva, who prepares to strike the weight room before focusing on his all-around game.
“Now that I’ve been a part of a playoff team and saw it firsthand, that’s absolutely another thing I want to enhance on,” da Silva said.
It was throughout Orlando’s first-round playoff series against the Celtics when da Silva witnessed the change in strength that the postseason brings compared to the routine season.
“The switch was wild,” he stated. “Just to see just how much more physical the game is … The stakes were greater and every game counts. It’s a lot more in-depth. It’s a lot more enjoyable.”
Although his function changed throughout the year, da Silva maximized his novice campaign.
An individual in the Increasing Stars event at All-Star weekend in February, he finished the season 10th amongst all novices in overall helps (113) and tied-14th in overall scoring (533 points), according to NBA.com.
And now he understands what he needs to work on this summer season in order to have a successful sophomore year.
“Returning a way better player, ensuring that I stay on the court for the majority of the season … I’ll do whatever it takes to do that,” da Silva stated.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com!.?.! Originally Released: May 17,
2025 at 3:00 PM EDT