Orlando Magic SG Gary Harris 'Validated' After Denver Nuggets Championship

Gary Harris played with the Denver Nuggets from 2014-21 before being traded to the Orlando Magic.

Jeremy Brener | Oct 4, 2023

In this story:

Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - The Denver Nuggets are entering the season as the defending NBA champions, and the Orlando Magic played a small role on the road towards hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

In 2021, the Magic traded starting power forward Aaron Gordon to the Nuggets for a package headlined by two first-round picks and shooting guard Gary Harris, who enters the final year of his contract with Orlando.

Harris played with the Nuggets from 2014-21 and was happy to see some of his former teammates finish on top.

“All the years of them getting close and years making the playoffs, to see them stick through and make it, that’s what it’s all about,” Harris said.

Gary Harris Immanuel Quickley Knicks — Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris defended by New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Harris also feels some rejuvenation knowing that the hard work he put in with Denver helped pay off for a championship in the future.

“It helps validate that it comes fast," Harris said. "A lot of teams, you don’t really expect them to win the whole thing last year. It just shows if you believe in yourself as a team, In this core group that we have here and everybody in this building, if you keep working hard and keep your head down, and block out all the noise, anything is possible."

The Magic isn't likely to follow in the Nuggets' footsteps this year as the NBA champions, but in order to get to the promised land someday, you have to start believing immediately, and like Denver, you never know when it's time to step into the spotlight.

Published Oct 4, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.