Magic HC Jamahl Mosley Reflects on Resilient Season

The first half of the 2024-25 NBA season did not mirror the second half for the Orlando Magic. Yet, despite that, they still managed to hang on and claim the Southeast Division title with two games remaining on their schedule. Orlando secured their division and spot in next week’s play-in while riding a four-game win streak. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley has done an excellent job with Orlando, leading them to back-to-back seasons with a chance to compete in the playoffs. Of course, this year might be a little different, considering Orlando will need to punch their ticket via the play-in. Nevertheless, Mosley had many positive things to say about his squad following a tough regular season filled with injuries to key players. 

Magic HC Jamahl Mosley Reflects on Resilient Season

Orlando Magic clinch division; head coach Jamahl Mosley praises team for endurance and toughness

Mosley has led Orlando’s rise in the East since he took the job in 2021. Last season was his first playoff appearance, and if the Magic hadn’t experienced the several injuries they went through this year, the likelihood of them being in a playoff spot rather than a play-in is high. First, club superstar Paolo Banchero went down earlier in the season. Then, Orlando had to deal with Mo Wagner and Franz Wagner sustaining their own injuries—Mo’s being season-ending with a torn ACL. Before Banchero suffered an oblique injury, the Magic were off to a good start. Franz did everything he could to keep the Magic in contention while Banchero was on ice. He did a fine job at it until he also went down with an oblique injury. It didn’t take long for Orlando to lose the momentum they started with. By the time Banchero and Franz returned, the Magic were far behind. They will finish the season hovering around .500 when it’s all said and done this weekend. 

Mosley, however, took much more positive things away from his team’s experience than the opposite. According to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel, Mosley is more than proud of his players and praised them for their season-long resilience, among other team-wide attributes, following their official clinching of their division.

“[I’m] extremely proud of this group,” Mosley said. “Just being able to endure through all the things — the injuries, the bump back, guys in, guys out — and still come away getting the division and giving yourself a chance at a secured seventh [seed] for the opportunity to get into the playoffs. I’m proud of our group for that, for being as tough as they are, resilient as they are to continue to push through no matter the circumstance.”

Back to the playoffs?

It’s unclear who Orlando will face in next Tuesday’s play-in game—Miami, Atlanta, or Chicago are the contestants. As it stands in the standings, the Hawks appear to be the likely opponent. The Bulls and Heat have three or more losses than the Magic. The Hawks have two more and sit in the eighth seed behind Orlando.

If Orlando makes it past the first game, there will be no easy road ahead. They would come face to face with the Boston Celtics, and despite the Magic winning their season series 2-1, the playoffs are another animal. It’s no more easier if Orlando falls in the first play-in game but wins the second. They would then meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in round one. Either way, entering the playoffs as the seventh or eighth seed, Orlando enters as heavy underdogs. Still, with all they dealt with throughout the season to get to where they are now, Mosley will be, and rightfully so, should be proud. Orlando is a young team, and they’re only starting to rise.