Anthony Black & Magic Coach Discuss Role Going Forward

Quotes from Anthony Black & Sean Sweeney on AB's Future Role

I asked Sean Sweeney about Anthony Black’s versatility & how he expects to manage his role as other players go in and out of the lineup with injuries.

Sweeney emphasized AB's need to attack in smart ways, whether that's offensively or defensively:

We want Anthony to be himself and do the best job he can of attacking, whether it is on offense or defense.

I think the better job he does of being aggressive with balance and making the right decision, the better everyone is around him.

Be himself.
Be aggressive.
Look to attack the play.Sean Sweeney

I asked Black about his productive start this year, especially as a Starter. Black clarified that he thinks he's been this level of player since last season, before his injury derailed his season. He notes that this coaching staff wants him to be even more aggressive in using his instincts to strike first.

I feel like this is pretty much the player I have been since this time last year. I dealt with an injury that made it tough to come back and play.

Just playing how I know how to play; being aggressive.

This coaching staff is telling me — be more aggressive, look to get my feet in the paint, trust myself when I get there finishing or more importantly looking for my teammates – and that is what I am going to try to do.

Just get into the paint, shooting my shots when I am open, and then trying to get my defense all the way up where it needs to be as the season goes.Anthony Black

I also asked Black how he mentally prepares for his shape-shifting role that seems to change by the game, sometimes by the play or the lineup he's in at any given time.

Black emphasized his ability to be comfortable filling in different roles for this team, and underlines the importance of understanding the positioning, goals, and needs of every single position at any given moment.

I think that is part of what makes me able to play with different groups, being comfortable playing different roles.

Obviously, I’m a bigger guard, so most of my life I have played with another guard, or sometimes by myself out there.

It is just doing what the team needs. Being sharp on all ends. Knowing what to do, knowing all the positions. Just trusting myself when I am in those different positions. Doing whatever I need to do based on what group is out there.Anthony Black

Understanding how every position aims to play a little differently, where and what is needed within each role, also helps accentuates Black's ability to take that understanding, that feel for the game, and apply it by striking when the timing's right; attacking when it's unexpected, because he knows what the offense and defense is expecting.

Creating something new from scratch based on the variables in front of you is the type of task stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Steph Curry do a recurring basis; yet, Black is also doing this very thing a nightly basis. As more opportunity arrives, Black's production, efficiency, and feel for the game should rise into high-level two-way impact right with it.

A tall guard who brings active, positive defense on the perimeter with elite ball-hawk defense is one thing; AB maintaining that energy while upping his volume scoring off the dribble, shooting threes on and off the ball, and creating good shots for his teammates as a consistent offensive weapon is his recipe for potential two-way stardom.

The only question left is – will the Orlando Magic keep letting Anthony Black cook?