Former UHA star Buckner hired to Orlando Magic staff

Former University Heights Academy basketball star Greg Buckner will have a new NBA home for the 2026-27 season. 

According to a press release from the Orlando Magic, Buckner has been hired as an assistant coach for the team. The former Blazers’ star is one of nine new coaches on the Magic staff for next season. 

Buckner spent the last two seasons on the Milwaukee Bucks’ staff. Prior to that, he was the associate head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The former UHA star was as an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies for two seasons (2017-19) and was with the Houston Rockets for five seasons, starting as a player development coach (2011-14) before becoming an assistant coach (2014-16). 

Originally selected in the second round (53rd overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft by Dallas, Buckner played in 570 career NBA regular season games (117 starts) during 10 seasons with Dallas, Philadelphia, Denver, Minnesota and Memphis, averaging 5.0 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 19.1 minpg. 

In addition to Buckner, the Magic also hired former Murray State University star Popeye Jones to the staff. Jones was an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks last season and has worked with Denver and Indiana. 

Buckner and Jones will serve on the coaching staff under Sean Sweeney, who was named head coach of the Magic on June 1. 

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