Maurice Harkless is a baby-faced, easygoing guy. He’s quick to smile and quick to laugh.
But since he entered the NBA, a recurring comment about the Orlando Magic has ticked him off. He recoils whenever somebody suggests that the Magic should be expected to lose games because of their inexperience.
“I hate when people say, ‘You’re a young team,’ and stuff like that,” Harkless admits. “It’s no excuse. I feel like we should go out there and we should get wins.”
There may be another reason why using youth as a crutch offends Harkless: People often mention age whenever Harkless struggles on the court. In 2012-13, his rookie season, he was one of the youngest players in the NBA, just 19 years old. Last season, he remained the youngest player on the Magic roster. Even now, he’s the third-youngest person on the team.
These days, after two full seasons in the pros, there’s a pervasive sense Harkless must step up his game and eliminate any youthful growing pains. The Magic have more competition at the wing positions than at any time in Harkless’ tenure. Tobias Harris and Aaron Gordon could take away Harkless’ minutes at small forward, while Victor Oladipo and Evan Fournier will be difficult to dislodge at shooting guard.
“It’ll be a great competition to look at and see where the minutes get divided, who raises their level of play,” coach Jacque Vaughn says.
Harkless received plenty of minutes his first two seasons. He started 59 games at small forward as a rookie and 41 more games at that spot last season.
From Year 1 to Year 2, Harkless improved as a long-range shooter, raising his three-point percentage from 27 percent to 38 percent. He also was more aggressive on cuts to the hoop and on drives along the baseline. But he often seemed hesitant to create off the dribble from above the free-throw line and still suffered from some lapses in his team defense.
“With Moe,” Magic GM Rob Hennigan says, “we’re looking for his confidence to continue to solidify as he gets more comfortable in the league and as he gains more experience.”
Magic executives and coaches love Harkless’ potential. He’s 6-feet-9, and he also possesses quick, nimble feet. Those characteristics should make him a lockdown defender on the wing.
Harkless recognizes the importance of the season ahead.
After he committed in January to playing for Puerto Rico in the FIBA World Cup, he took himself off the team over the summer.
“I wanted to play,” Harkless says. “I felt like it would be a great opportunity, but I also felt like it was important for me to stay here and actually spend a lot more time working on my game and just getting ready for this season. I think I did that. I think I did a good job this summer just working hard and preparing myself for this year.
“At the same time, I would’ve liked to [play for Puerto Rico], and who knows in the future what I might do?”
Asked to provide a list of things he worked on, Harkless responded with a long list. He said he focused on his shooting, ball-handling, agility and his finishing around the rim. He also said he emphasized being more consistent on the court.
Vaughn has liked what he’s seen from Harkless the last few days.
“He’s grown up with us and now [he has] the task of consistently producing for us,” Vaughn says.
“Moe’s been very consistent — I will say that — from the start of camp till today. That will be his challenge, and he knows that. He’s heard that from me, and that’s the next step for him. So I will give him credit for these few days of camp.”
If Harkless continues to remain intense, perhaps no one will view his youth as a detriment anymore.
That would make him happy.
jbrobbins@tribune.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins.
