By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Orlando Magic tried an unusual tactic during Thursday’s practice. To test focus at the foul line, the team filled the gym with a barrage of cheers, chants, and barnyard sounds. The loud distractions drew lighthearted reactions from the squad as they prepared to bounce back from disappointment in the opening night of the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season.
The auditory ambush amused center Goga Bitadze, who drew on his international experience to brush off the disruption. “I heard the chicken sounds,” the 27-year-old Georgian center reacted during a media session. “But I mean, now, yeah. I’ve been playing with the crowd from Europe in Serbia, so I played in Serbia. Like Jokic said, ‘I played in Serbia, brother.’ So this doesn’t hurt me, for sure.”
For German forward Franz Wagner, the racket was a completely unfamiliar wrinkle. “That was new,” he admitted when asked if the group had ever used simulated crowd noise before. “We’re working on free throws. I think that was a new thing. For me at least.”
“There was chicken noises because in some arenas you get free chicken when you miss,” he added, offering a smiling explanation tied to common promotions found in the league.
The session follows a mixed performance at the stripe during Wednesday’s home loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Orlando converted 30 of their 39 attempts, with Bitadze and Wagner shooting a combined 6-of-9.
The Magic will look to translate their noisy rehearsal into results on Friday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Kia Center.
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