BASKETBALL fans are in for a mouth-watering season after the Mandurah Magic revealed two imports for the 2020 campaign.
Memphis utility forward Marvin Smith II will return for his second season in Mandurah alongside Oregon’s Jarrett Gray who will get his first taste of Magic basketball.
Both men have been playing basketball for as long as they can remember and have made their way through high school as well as college basketball in the United States with Smith’s college team narrowly missing last years NCAA tournament.
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READ NOW“Basketball was always my passion, so I stuck with it,” Smith said.
This passion has also seen him play in Europe and Qatar to go with his season in Mandurah.
Gray is just beginning his professional career but has already played in Europe and is excited to represent the Magic.
“Now I’m here I’m excited to see what the rest of the season has in hand,” he said.
The guard did not know much about Mandurah before signing but had a good feeling.
“I kind of did some research and looked up Mandurah and saw some of the photos and just knew it was going to be a good place to be in and it is really beautiful,” Gray said.
The pair join a substantial off-season of acquisitions for the club, who also signed Perth Wildcats legend Ricky Grace to a coaching position as well as his son Jerami as a guard.
Smith is excited by the changes he has seen around the group this year and when asked about his goals for the season had one answer.
“To win a championship,” he said.
“That’s going to always be my answer.
“We’re not just out here playing games we’re actually in the mix trying to win the championship.”
Gray agrees and believes that he and Smith II can be vocal leaders.
“I feel we both bring a different kind of level of experience and perspective to the game,” he said.
“Everywhere you go there is a different style of play, but overall basketball is basketball, and I think that when it comes down to it, all the basics are all the same wherever you go.”
They both also have a deep respect for Australia’s basketball leagues and are ready for a physical season.
“I think I will be able to handle it pretty well; I’ve grown up in the states playing football and sports like that, so I’ve really grown to accept physicality and kind of seek it,” Gray said.
Both players hope to earn spots in the NBL or NBA G-League and are ready to give the Magic their all to get there.