The Orlando Magic are heading into a tough stretch, and they’ll have to do it without one of their most dynamic two-way players.
As the Magic begin a four-game West Coast road trip with a visit to the defending champion Denver Nuggets, they’ll be without guard Jalen Suggs, who remains sidelined with a left hip contusion suffered in Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal loss to the Knicks. That absence opens the door for third-year guard Anthony Black to take on a much larger role-and his teammates believe he’s more than ready.
“With Jalen out, the message to him is just be even more aggressive,” said center Wendell Carter Jr. after Wednesday’s practice. “He’s shown how talented he is on the offensive end and defensively-he’s very unique and can guard most positions.”
Black has quietly been carving out a bigger role this season, and now the spotlight gets a little brighter. Through 26 games, the 21-year-old is averaging 13 points and 1.3 steals per game.
When he’s been in the starting lineup-six times so far-he’s held steady, putting up 13.7 points, 1.2 steals, and a block per game. That’s not just solid production-it’s a sign of a young player growing into the moment.
And for Carter Jr., that growth is no surprise.
“That’s going to be a big challenge for him with Jalen out,” he said. “But overall, AB has been doing what I’ve seen since we drafted him-he soaks up information, learning from guys like Jalen and Franz. He’s starting to blossom into what we’ve been seeing since his rookie training camp.”
“Super excited for him,” Carter Jr. added. “He’s definitely nowhere near his peak, still got a lot more room to get better, but he’s taken tremendous strides."
Still, replacing Suggs isn’t a one-man job. The Magic know what he brings-especially on the defensive end-and they’ll need a collective effort to fill that void.
“His aggressiveness on both ends of the court,” Carter Jr. said when asked what the team will miss most. “We got to make up for that somewhere somehow; maybe all five got to step up their aggressiveness all together. Jalen’s one of those unique guys-you can’t really replace him.”
That kind of intensity, especially on defense, has been a hallmark of Suggs’ game. His ability to pressure the ball, disrupt passing lanes, and bring relentless energy has been a tone-setter for Orlando. Without him, the Magic will need to dig deep, especially against a team like Denver.
And speaking of Denver, the challenge ahead is a big one-literally and figuratively.
The Nuggets come into Thursday’s matchup sitting second in the Western Conference with a 19-7 record, led by none other than Nikola Jokic, who’s once again playing like the best player in the league. The three-time MVP is averaging a near-triple-double: 29.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game. That’s not just elite-it’s historic.
“I think he’s the best of the best in my opinion,” Carter Jr. said of Jokic. “You kind of know their style of play, but as a scorer he has so many different counters, different moves he can do.”
“He’s a big body too, so when he makes a good move and you’re trying to make up for it, it’s kind of tough because he’s a big body and a willing passer. He’s got a lot of tools in the shed for sure."
Orlando’s defense will have its hands full trying to contain Jokic, and they’ll need to be sharp across the board. Without Suggs, that task becomes even taller-but it also presents a clear opportunity for players like Black to step up and show what they can do on both ends of the floor.
This road trip won’t be easy. But it’s the kind of stretch that tests a young team’s mettle-and gives rising talents like Anthony Black a chance to prove they belong in the spotlight.