April 14, 2023

Michael Carter-Williams

56 minutes

As the NBA playoffs tip off this week, 16 teams find themselves dreaming of hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy in June.

The Orlando Magic, however, are not one of those teams ... again. A short-lived franchise filled with longing for the days of Shaq and Penny, Dwight and Turkoglu, the Magic actually haven't won a playoff series since 2010.

But for the first time in a long time, there's hope in Orlando.

This week’s guest is a veteran leader on that team: point guard Michael Carter-Williams.

On today's show, MCW discusses the following with fellow Syracuse alum Ariel Helwani:

His battles with injuries and if he considered hanging it up after missing all of the 2021-22 season

What it's like being the oldest member of the youthful Magic

His MMA fandom and why he likes to train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Battles with mental health issues and how he's overcome them

What it was like to hire -- and later fire -- his mother as his manager

Getting drafted in the same class as and playing with perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo

And much more!

Michael Carter-Williams was the No. 11 overall draft pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. A former standout at Syracuse, MCW has played for six teams: the Magic, Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks.

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