The Orlando Magic are stepping back onto the hardwood with a chip on their shoulder. After a hard-fought NBA Cup semifinal loss to the New York Knicks, they’re staring down another serious test: the defending champion Denver Nuggets.
But with starters Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs both battling injuries, Orlando isn’t folding. Instead, they’re leaning into their depth-and one name keeps rising to the surface: Anthony Black.
Black came into the season as a bit of a wild card, the kind of player who could swing games with his versatility if everything clicked. Now, with the rotation stretched thin, he’s proving he’s more than just potential-he’s production. And head coach Jamahl Mosley is seeing the growth happen in real time.
“It stays with the mindset for him more than anything,” Mosley said. “His confidence in how he’s playing, his ability to attack the basket in transition, making decisions when he gets to the basket.”
That confidence is starting to show in the numbers. Black is averaging career highs across the board-13 points, four rebounds, and 1.3 steals-and doing it while playing with poise beyond his years. He’s not just filling in for Suggs; he’s carving out his own identity as a physical, two-way guard who can dictate pace and pressure.
Defensively, Mosley sees Black’s length, speed, and instincts as a real weapon. “His calling card is making other guards uncomfortable,” Mosley said. “He’s got a special gift in that regard, and that’s what we keep asking him to do nightly.”
But it’s not just the defense. Black’s ability to grab a rebound and immediately push the tempo is changing the way Orlando flows in transition.
Mosley highlighted those moments when Black gets downhill, reads the floor, and either attacks or slows it down to get them into their sets. That’s the kind of decision-making you want from your lead guard-especially when your backcourt is banged up.
Black knows exactly where he’s trying to grow. “Just getting into the paint more-being more aggressive and challenging bigs,” he said. “Going more one-on-one and attacking more downhill with the ball.”
That attacking mindset is crucial right now. With Suggs sidelined, the Magic need someone to bring that edge on both ends of the floor.
And Black is stepping into the role with confidence. Wendell Carter Jr. has seen the evolution firsthand.
“With Jalen out, the message to him is just be even more aggressive,” Carter said. “He’s shown how talented he is on the offensive end and defensively-he’s very unique, can guard most positions. That’s going to be a big challenge for him with Jalen out.”
Carter also praised Black’s ability to soak up knowledge from veterans like Suggs and Wagner. “He’s starting to blossom into what we’ve been seeing since his rookie training camp. Super excited for him-he’s definitely nowhere near his peak, still got a lot more room to get better, but he’s taken tremendous strides.”
That’s the story of this Magic team right now. Injuries have forced them to adjust on the fly, but the silver lining is the emergence of players like Black, who are proving they can handle the spotlight. Paolo Banchero continues to lead, but he’s leaning on the collective effort of a group that’s buying in, defending hard, and playing with an edge.
The Magic may be bruised, but they’re not backing down. And if Anthony Black keeps trending the way he is, Orlando’s future just got a whole lot more interesting.