How NBA helped Magnay grow

Perth Wildcats recruit Will Magnay said his time in the NBA helped him become more flexible, both on and off the court.

After his breakout 2019/20 season, Will Magnay received plenty of attention from NBA scouts.

He went to the NBA bubble in Orlando and, eventually, signed with the New Orleans Pelicans and in December 2020.

The 22-year-old said the experience helped him become more adaptable.

“Control what you can control, is the biggest lesson I took away from it,” he said.

“You don’t know if you’re going to play, you don’t know what’s coming the next day. COVID added extra rules and regulations to what you’re allowed to do outside of basketball and all that stuff as well.”

Magnay credits Pelicans teammate Willy Hernangomez for helping him stay sharp throughout the experience.

Above: Willy Hernangomez

“He just grabbed me every day and would say, well, we’re doing extra conditioning today. We didn’t get to practice as much as you do in the NBL, and he’d say if you’re called on, you want to be ready to play,” he said.

“Trade rumours would fly around for him, and I’d ask him what do you do about that? And he’d say, it doesn’t change what I do every day.

“So that was the biggest takeaway. Come in, do your work, make sure you tick all your boxes and control what you can control. The rest will take care of itself.

Will Magnay is set to make his Wildcats debut on Sunday against the NZ Breakers.