Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black has made real strides since entering the league, but the question hanging over him now is whether those improvements are enough to earn a contract extension from the team that drafted him.
The 2026-27 NBA season is getting closer, and while teams prepare for media days and training camp, Black still hasn’t secured a new deal. He’s set to play this season on a $10.1 million club option, which leaves the door open for an extension. If that doesn’t happen, he’ll head into next offseason as a restricted free agent.
Black’s case got stronger last season when he made a major leap as an offensive player. The 22-year-old former sixth overall pick played in 64 regular-season games and started 40 of them, posting career highs across the board with 15 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
He gave Orlando valuable production off the bench and helped steady a second unit that needed it, but the season wasn’t without concerns. Black still hasn’t become a reliable 3-point shooter, and his free-throw percentage dipped from 76.1% in 2024-25 to 73.2% last season even with more attempts.
His playoff run against the Detroit Pistons also left something to be desired. In seven games, he averaged 8.6 points while shooting 37% from the field.
So where does that leave his future with the Magic? In discussing the situation recently with RJ Saunders of 1010XL Magic, I said Black has shown steady growth in each of his first three seasons.
"So, Black has taken pretty exponential jumps each of his first three years in the league. He came in as a rookie, and I believe he played in 69 games, made 33 starts, and only averaged 4.6 points per game.
He had to work through those growing pains. Next season, after that, he increased his point average total by almost five, and then last year jumps up to 15.
So, he's growing as a scorer, and I really believe that under the guidance of former assistant God Shammgod, he was able to improve his handle, learn how to create his own shot, and we saw him legitimately take over games. I will never forget, RJ, that game against the Denver Nuggets two days after Christmas.
He drops 38 and goes head-to-head with Joker, right? So the kid has it in him, but can he do it consistently, because there are other parts of his game that are lacking.
He's not a great perimeter shooter. He's pretty mediocre at the free-throw line, and he's still learning how to facilitate for his teammates.
So I do think that an extension is out there. I know Keith Smith of Spotrac kind of envisioned him falling somewhere in the four-year, $80 million range, but if the Magic decide to keep him on ice, this is absolutely a prove-it year for the young man because next year he hits restricted free agency."
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