Melvin Ejim was set to head to Germany this fall for a second consecutive season of European pro play. But the opportunity to make an NBA roster changed his mind this week when he agreed to a contract with the Orlando Magic.
The 6-foot-7 forward was the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2013-14 playing for Iowa State. This summer, before he signed with the Magic, he spoke with Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register about his pro plans.
- 'My focus has been on the NBA, ever since I can remember,' Ejim said during a June interview with The Register. 'It was good playing in Italy last season, but the NBA -- that’s where guys like me dream of eventually ending up.'
Ejim averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in 30 minutes per game playing for one of the Magic's teams this summer. He averaged 7.7 points and 6.3 rebounds playing 29 games last season in the Italian league. Peterson noted Ejim's likely destination, at least to begin the 2015-16 season, could be Orlando's D-League affiliate in Erie, Pa.
