Anthony Black’s Emergence Fueling Magic’s Momentum: “We’re Just Trying to Flip the Game”
The Orlando Magic are on a roll, and one of the key catalysts behind their recent surge is second-year guard Anthony Black. With a sixth straight home win now in the books - this one a hard-fought victory over the Chicago Bulls - Black is proving that his impact off the bench is more than just a spark. It’s becoming a staple of Orlando’s identity.
Coming off the bench, Black poured in 22 points and led all players in plus-minus for the second game in a row - a stat that doesn’t always tell the full story, but in this case, it paints a pretty accurate picture. When Black’s on the floor, the Magic are playing better basketball.
And he knows exactly what’s expected of him in that sixth-man role.
“Since I've been here, the bench has always taken pride in trying to be the best bench in the league,” Black said postgame. “That’s something we’re trying to do again this year. We feel like we have the talent, and we feel like it’s our responsibility to come in and change the game.”
That mindset is showing up in the box score and on the floor. The entire bench unit was in the positive in plus-minus against Chicago - a testament to their cohesion and energy. Black even joked about teammate Noah Penda’s performance before quickly giving him his props: “I was going to say Noah, but he played a great game too.”
It’s a group that’s trusting each other, knowing their roles, and embracing the challenge of flipping the momentum whenever the starters need a lift. That kind of chemistry and accountability is rare for a young team, but it’s becoming a hallmark of this Magic squad.
A big part of Black’s leap this season has come from the work he’s put in behind the scenes - particularly with assistant coach and player development guru God Shammgod. Known for his elite handle and creativity, Shammgod has been instrumental in sharpening Black’s offensive game.
“Obviously, those are things I'm working on with Sham,” Black said. “Ball handling, shooting off the dribble, different finishes inside the three-point line.”
But for Black, the biggest shift hasn’t just been technical - it’s been mental.
“I think the biggest development is just my aggression,” he explained. “Me just going out there, trying to score, trying to get to the rim every time, and then shooting my open shots.”
That mentality shift is showing up in his play. He’s attacking with confidence, looking for his own shot, and playing with a sense of joy that’s contagious.
“I’m having fun, having a lot of fun again,” he said with a smile. “And yeah, it’s just fun.”
The Magic, now winners of 11 of their last 15 games after a 2-4 start to the season, are finding their rhythm at the right time. They went a perfect 4-0 in NBA Cup group play and are showing signs of becoming a team no one wants to face. With matchups against the Spurs, Heat, and Knicks on the horizon, the schedule isn’t getting any easier - but Black and the Magic aren’t backing down.
“We know we got some good opponents coming up,” Black said. “But at the end of the day, we’ve shown we can compete with any team when we’re on our game.”
The focus now? Keep building, keep tightening up the details, and keep riding the wave.
“As long as we do that and we keep getting better,” Black said, “we’ll be in most of the games we play.”
Right now, the Magic are doing more than just hanging around - they’re making a statement. And Anthony Black is a big reason why.