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Basketball 2022: Ezi Magbegor on filling Lauren Jackson’s ’empty’ ‘crazy’ future with Opals Women’s Health Women in Sport Awards, how to watch

Ezi Magbegor may be the next big thing in Australian basketball, but she’s less worried about the pressure of being the next Lauren Jackson.

Magbegor’s career has been on a steady climb since playing his first game for Opals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and has since gone from strength to strength playing for both club and country.

The 193cm center is only 23 years old, but has already won titles with Jackson’s former WNBA team, the Seattle Storm, and WNBL’s Melbourne Boomers.

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After Opals won a comeback bronze medal at the FIBA ​​World Cup, Magbegor took just a week off before flying to Hungary to play for Sopron in the EuroLeague.

“I think I’m ready to go into it,” Magbegor told news.com.au.

“Obviously the WNBA and the World Cup were back to back. A week doesn’t seem like a long time, but it took me a week to rest, recover and refresh my mind. I’m looking forward to it.”

Magbegor didn’t quite have the breakout World Cup many expected, but she It exploded in Australia’s group stage game against Canada.

Dominating the second quarter on both offense and defense, the Opals turned the tide. Opal probably won a game of the tournament and put his quest for a medal on track.

After a disappointing Tokyo Olympics in which Opal was knocked out in the quarterfinals, Magbegor said winning a medal in an international tournament was exactly what the Australian needed.

“It was definitely our goal to win a medal at the end, and I was happy to bring something home,” she said.

“Whether said or not, it was definitely important for us to get a medal and get back to where we knew we could be.

“Tokyo has never been our basketball standard.

“It’s clear that we still have a lot of work to do, but it gives us confidence ahead of the Olympics in a few years.”

Jackson retired for the World Cup and was in vintage shape. Leading Opal to a medal in their final match in Australia.

“Whether she was on the bench or on the court, whatever her role was, you knew she would rule.

“Just having her on our team has done a lot. We know what she did, the career she had, so I think it brought a lot to the group. “

Jackson retired permanently Liz Campage is out of the pictureMagbegor is the heir who seems to take the mantle as the focal point of the opal.

Asked if he feels pressure to succeed Jackson, Magbegor said, “No, I don’t.

“Obviously it was great to have her back and play with the team, but I don’t think there’s pressure on anyone to fill that void.”

Magbegor is poised to lead the next generation of Opals for the next decade, including the 2024 Paris Olympics where returning to the podium is paramount.

“It’s unbelievable to think I’ll be 25 at the next Olympics. Of course I want to make that team,” she said.

“I think with age comes a bigger role and what I try to do is maintain and improve my current trajectory and do what I can to help whatever team I am in.”

Magbegor’s basketball schedule has been jam-packed lately, and she’s keen to develop her game “step by step” by playing in the best European and American leagues.

Magbegor said of his career, “It’s very exciting.

“When I started my career, I wanted to play in the WNBL, I wanted to be drafted in the WNBA, and playing in Europe was what I wanted.

“After winning the championship with the (WNBL’s Melbourne) Boomers, it’s been a more perfect time than ever. think.”

“I think the most important thing is to keep improving. I think there is still a long way to go. Putting is probably the main focus right now.”

Magbegor has been nominated for the ‘One to Watch’ category at the Women’s Health Women in Sports Awards in Sydney on Sunday.

Hosted by Sarah Jones, Bianca Chatfield and Lara Pitt of Fox Sports, the event will be broadcast live and ad-free exclusively on Fox Sports.

2022 award categories include Local Sports Champion, Leadership Legend, Outstanding Women in Sports, Sports Influencer, Notable Person, Team Champions, Outstanding Moment, Young Achiever, and 2022 Women of the Year Health athletes, Hall of Famers included.

The Women in Sport Awards kick off Sunday at 7:30pm (AEDT) on Fox Sports Channel 505, just after New Zealand take on Australia in Game 2 of the Constellation Cup.

first published as Eddie Magbegor on filling Lauren Jackson’s ’empty’ and ‘crazy’ future with opals

Basketball 2022: Ezi Magbegor on filling Lauren Jackson’s ’empty’ ‘crazy’ future with Opals Women’s Health Women in Sport Awards, how to watch

Source link Basketball 2022: Ezi Magbegor on filling Lauren Jackson’s ’empty’ ‘crazy’ future with Opals Women’s Health Women in Sport Awards, how to watch

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