Orlando Magic's Izaiyah Nelson is Ready to Prove Himself

ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic are gearing up to kick off their Summer League slate of games, which begins Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets. 

The players on Orlando’s Summer League roster will have a chance to show that they have what it takes to play at the next level, and one of the players looking to prove his worth will be forward Izaiyah Nelson.

Nelson, 22, was selected by the Washington Wizards with the 51st pick in the 2026 NBA Draft before being traded to Orlando. Now, after playing the bulk of his collegiate career at Arkansas State and finishing it at the University of South Florida, Nelson will take the first major step of his NBA career.

Following Monday’s practice at the AdventHealth Training Center, Nelson was made available to talk with the media, and he discussed what a successful Summer League will look like for him.

"Just how I approach," Nelson said. "What Jay [Jase Richardson] said, just winning games, just going out there, giving it all you got. Meeting new people, knowing your team, and just winning."

Nelson has been praised by Magic Summer League head coach D.J. Bakker and others for his relentless motor and work ethic, which he hangs his hat on.

"I take a lot of pride in it," Nelson said. "Just because you have to, in the game of basketball, you got to work. If you're not working, you don't love the game.And one thing about me, I love basketball. I'm going to do anything to continue to play basketball for the rest of my life."

Last season at USF, Nelson averaged 15.9 points and 9.6 rebounds along with three stocks (steals plus blocks) in 34 games, all of which he started. He is far from a perimeter threat (15.3% 3-point percentage in four collegiate seasons), but he is not afraid to do the dirty work.

For fans who will be introduced to Nelson’s game via Summer League, there are three traits he said they should be looking for from him.

"A lot of energy and a lot of emotion and a lot of smiles," Nelson said.

In Nelson’s early conversations with new Magic head coach Sean Sweeney, there has been an emphasis on the former remaining true to himself and what got him to this stage.

"Just going out there, not trying to be somebody that I'm not," Nelson said. "I know what I came here for, I know why they picked me, and so that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to do everything, all the little things, everything that nobody wanted to do, I'm out there doing it. So, it's nothing new to me, and I'm going to just show everybody who I am."

As a second-round pick on a two-way deal, Nelson is unfazed by the requirement to prove himself. In fact, his situation increases his desire to succeed.

"Yeah, a hundred percent," he said. "It definitely does make you a lot more hungry, and it's just like, it's nothing new to me, for real, for real. So it's just like, I've always been under looked, and so it's just like, why let this two-way stop me now? 

"It's just like, once it's my opportunity, I know what I can do, and I know what I'm capable of, and everybody else know that's close to me and see me play," Nelson added. "And so, like, when I have the opportunity, I'm going to show everybody why I should be in the NBA."

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