Matt's Spotlight: The Orlando Magic

Published: Thursday, November 21, 2024

by Matt Nazario

Over the past few seasons, the Orlando Magic have slowly blossomed into one of the NBA’s most promising young squads. Following their loss in the 2009 NBA Finals, playoff blunders in the 2010 and 2011 seasons, and the departure of superstar center Dwight Howard, Orlando began a slight spiral into mediocrity as the 2010s progressed.

They would eventually snap a seven-year playoff drought with two first-round exits in the 2018 and 2019 postseasons; however, the Magic hovered near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings for the better part of the decade. 

Orlando seemingly hit rock bottom in the 2021-2022 season, finishing with a 22-60 record, spending another year in the NBA cellar—the only team worse being the 20-62 Houston Rockets. However, when you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up, and that has certainly been the case for Orlando.

Their disastrous 2021 season was rewarded with the #1 overall pick in the 2022 Draft, where the Magic found their shining star of the future: power forward Paolo Banchero from Duke University. Two years after this pivotal day in Magic history, the numbers and accolades speak for themselves, proving this was a stellar choice for Orlando. 

Banchero earned Rookie of the Year honors for his incredible 2022-2023 rookie season and followed it up with his first All-Star game nod in his sophomore year. More importantly, the Magic clinched the fifth seed, a playoff berth, and a 47-35 record—their most wins since 2018 (42) and their first time finishing 10 games over the .500 mark since 2011.

Although they may have lost in the first round of the 2023-2024 NBA Playoffs in a seven-game thriller against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the future has never been brighter for the Magic. 

While he has been sidelined indefinitely with an oblique injury, Banchero had a white-hot start to the 2024 season. Through five games, he delivered two 30-point performances, including a 33-point, 10-rebound opening night against the Miami Heat and a 50-point, 13-rebound masterclass against the Indiana Pacers, where he was just one assist shy of a triple-double.

For the first time since Dwight Howard more than a decade ago, the Magic have found their franchise superstar.  

Despite Banchero’s absence, Orlando has continued to impress and remain afloat in the standings. The Magic excel at playing to their strengths. They rank 26th in the NBA in offensive efficiency but second in defense, allowing the second-fewest points per game (102).

Since his arrival in 2021, head coach Jamahl Mosley has crafted a defensive-minded squad full of young talent. In an offensively driven league, the Magic will eventually need to address their scoring challenges, whether through trades or free agency. However, it is encouraging that the defense-first mentality seems to be working.

Who’s to say the offense won’t improve upon Banchero’s return or with the continued growth of their young talent?  

“Next man up” has been the phrase best encapsulating the Magic’s resilience this season, as injuries to Banchero and starting center Wendell Carter Jr. have not hindered the team’s performance as much as one might expect.  

Building off their impressive play during the 2024 Paris Olympics for Team Germany, brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner have leveled up their game this season. Franz has been the much-needed hero for the Magic during Banchero’s absence, averaging 22.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. He has blossomed into the co-star Orlando has been looking for to pair with Banchero.

Moritz has also been a solid contributor, averaging 12.4 points per game on 54.7% shooting. The brothers recently became only the second pair of siblings to lead their teams in scoring in three straight games, covering matchups against the Wizards, Hornets, and Pacers (November 8th–November 12th), as noted by Orlando Magic Public Relations. 

Despite some erratic shooting nights, Jalen Suggs has contributed 15 points per game while hustling on the boards and defense. Anthony Black has seemingly taken over the role previously held by Cole Anthony, providing timely assists and facilitating the Magic offense.

Jonathan Isaac, a Magic staple since 2017, has also delivered meaningful minutes off the bench. His numbers may not jump off the stat sheet, aside from his rebounding prowess, but he makes his presence known. 

One of the season’s biggest surprises has been backup center Goga Bitadze. In the absence of Wendell Carter Jr., Bitadze has made the most of his opportunity, averaging career highs in points (7.9), rebounds (6.8), and blocks (1.4) per game. He is currently 10th in the NBA in field goal percentage, shooting an impressive 68.1% from the field. 

For Magic faithful, the primary frustration this season has been Cole Anthony’s limited minutes and struggles on the court. Cole was a solid bench guard last season, averaging 14.9 points per game, and has consistently averaged double-digit scoring since his rookie year.

This season, however, Cole's only been getting 10 minutes off the bench and has struggled with 3.9 points per game on 33.3% shooting. Known as a tremendous locker-room presence, Cole could shine when given the chance—only time will tell if his situation improves. 

At the time of writing, Orlando has now won six straight games, boasting a 9-6 record and sitting third in the Eastern Conference. Their three-game road trip began in Phoenix with an impressive 109-99 victory, highlighted by an incredible defensive performance holding the Suns’ superstar to 17 points on 5/14 shooting, following his 40-point masterpiece in the prior game. Franz Wagner added another stellar 32-point performance.  

The Magic are undoubtedly a team everyone should keep an eye on as the 2024-25 season progresses.

Matt Nazario can be reached at matthew.nazario@student.shu.edu. 

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