Orlando, FL – The Orlando Magic have signed center Wendell Carter Jr. to a contract extension, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.
Carter Jr. (6’10”, 262, 4/16/99) played in 55 games (48 starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 11.0 ppg., 6.9 rpg. and 1.7 apg. in 25.6 minpg., while shooting .525 (223-425) from the floor and .374 (64-171) from three-point range. He led (or tied) the team in scoring twice, in rebounding 26 times and in assists once. Carter Jr. scored in double figures 28 times and 20+ points three times, including a season-high 25 points on Jan. 19 vs. Philadelphia. He had 10+ rebounds 10 times and recorded nine double-doubles. Carter Jr. also played in seven playoff games (five starts), averaging 7.6 ppg., 6.3 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 26,4 minpg.
Originally selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft by Chicago, Carter Jr. has appeared in 315 career NBA regular season games (294 starts) with Chicago and Orlando, averaging 12.5 ppg., 8.5 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in 27.6 minpg., while shooting .517 (1,497-2,893) from the floor. He was acquired by the Magic from Chicago, along with Otto Porter Jr. and two future first round draft picks, in exchange for Al-Farouq Aminu and Nikola Vučević on Mar. 25, 2021.
Carter Jr. played and started in 37 games during his only collegiate season (2017-18) at Duke University, averaging 13.5 ppg., 9.1 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 2.05 blkpg. in 26.9 minpg., while shooting .561 (179-319) from the floor. He finished second all-time among Duke freshmen in rebounds (335), blocked shots (76) and double-doubles (16). Carter Jr. was a Second Team All-ACC selection and a unanimous pick to the ACC All-Freshman Team.
