The Osceola Magic have found their next head coach, and they’re bringing in a proven name from the G League and NBA ranks.
Ronnie Burrell is set to take over Orlando’s affiliate, a league source confirmed Friday morning. HoopsHype’s Mike Scotto was first to report the hire.
Burrell arrives with a strong resume. He was named the G League coach of the year in 2023 and has spent the last three seasons working as an NBA assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets. Before that, he coached in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks in 2021-22 and served as a player development coordinator with the Chicago Bulls the year prior.
He takes over for Dylan Murphy, who left Osceola in early August to join Mike Boynton Jr.’s staff at the University of Michigan as an assistant coach. Murphy’s run with the Magic was a successful one: Osceola finished first in the G League’s Eastern Conference in each of the past three regular seasons and made it to the G League Finals in 2025.
Burrell earned his coach of the year honor after guiding the Long Island Nets to a 23-9 record and a trip to the G League’s Eastern Conference Finals.
Before moving into coaching, the New Jersey native played 11 professional seasons from 2005-16 in France, Germany and Poland after a four-year college career at UNC Greensboro from 2001-05, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. He later got a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in sports management at Florida Atlantic University.
Burrell’s first season with Osceola will open on Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. inside Osceola Heritage Park against the Oklahoma City Blue.
In Other News...
Magic Just Made A Development Move Fans Should Care About
Ronnie Burrells arrival as head coach of the Magics G League affiliate is the kind of development move that can matter long after the summer headlines fade. For Orlando, the G League pipeline has become an important part of the organizations broader identity, and adding a new voice to guide that group gives the franchise another chance to align its young players, system and teaching habits from top to bottom.
The move comes at a time when several teams are reshaping their developmental infrastructure, with coaching staffs shifting across the league and player development taking on even greater importance. Orlando has made no secret of how much it values that side of the operation, and Burrells hire is another signal that the Magic want their prospects getting the same message whether they are in Orlando or down with the affiliate. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Fans Face A Big Viewing Change This Season
Magic fans who have gotten used to chasing games across a patchwork of cable and streaming options are going to have a new home to learn this season. The Magic have announced DAZN as their exclusive direct-to-consumer streaming partner for the 2026-27 season, giving viewers live and on-demand access to preseason and regular-season games that are not picked up nationally.
The arrangement also keeps the broadcast booth familiar, with Dante Marchitelli set to handle lead play-by-play and Jeff Turner returning as analyst. DAZN will offer several subscription plans, along with discounts for season ticket holders and a free seven-day trial in the Magics broadcast territory, which should make the transition a little easier for fans who want to follow the team game by game. [Read more 🡒]
Jamal Cain Has One Big Chance To Earn Orlando's Trust
Jamal Cain is back in a familiar but meaningful spot for the Magic heading into the new season, moving into his second year with the team after last seasons contract conversion from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract. Now entering his fifth year in the league, Cain remains the kind of role player Orlando likes to keep around because of his energy, athleticism and ability to hit from deep, traits that can matter a lot over a long season when the rotation gets tested.
The challenge for Cain is turning that profile into dependable production when the games tighten and the minutes become more important. He was pressed into a starting role during the playoffs and struggled to give Orlando much offensively, which is why this season feels like a real proving ground. The Magic need him to show growth and make good on the trust theyve already invested, especially if he is going to be a useful bench piece when the team needs an extra spark. [Read more 🡒]
