Anthony Black's 'Dunk of the Year' lifts Magic to win over Grizzlies

Anthony Black is stronger this season

One sign of Black's added strength in his third NBA season is that he has 23 and-ones — plays where he's fouled but still makes his shot. Last year, he had 25 for the whole season.

Black's game is quite physical. When Orlando took him with the No. 5 pick in 2023, he was already a plus defender, with excellent size for his position at 6-foot-7. It took a little longer for Black's offense to catch up, lacking consistency with his jump shot and his passing.

Now that he's in his third season of NBA weight training, Black is more able to punish defenders on drives. His team trusts him with the ball more, as seen in his career-high four assists per game. Black is choosing high-efficiency shots as well, taking 73 percent of his shots either at the rim or behind the three-point line. When he elevates to the basket, he's tough to stop, even with a lot of help.

Banchero and Franz Wagner are still the Magic's primary scorers, along with Desmond Bane. Now that they're getting production from Black, the Magic won't have to choose between offense and defense — their third-year guard can give them both.