After years of struggle, Orlando’s magic eventually became one of the title contenders for the Eastern Conference.
Since Dwight Howard set off in 2012, Orlando Magic has been searching for the next Cornerstone Superstar.
Well, their search ended with a first-place overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, Paolo Bancello. The Buncello has only played three seasons, but the magic has arrived twice in the postseason.
Of course, Banchero and Co. deserve praise, but their head coach, Jamahl Mosley, also leads the team from the bystanders.
After a four-year NCAA career in Colorado, Mosley was not drafted in the 2001 NBA Draft. Mosley never played in the league, but began his NBA journey in 2006.
Mosley joined the Denver Nuggets as an assistant/player development coach. He spent four seasons with the franchise before joining the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach.
Again, he remained in the organization for four years before departing for the role of assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks.
Mosley looked good for the Mavs as he continues to spend seven seasons under manager Rick Carlisle.
However, in 2020, Mosley left the franchise at the same time as manager Carlisle. This time, Mosley did not join the team as an assistant coach.
Instead, Mosley found his first head coaching job in magic. In his first season, the magic ended with a terrible 22-60 record.
However, it was a disguise blessing for Mosley as Magic scored the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. With Buncello on the roster, the magic improved to a 34-48 record.
In the 2023-24 NBA season, Mosley showed off his brilliance as the magic finished the campaign with a 47-35 record. The franchise also won its first playoff berth since 2020.
Coach Mosley was highly praised for his efforts as he finished second in the NBA Coach of the Year race.
Without injuries, Mosley’s magic would have ended up with a better record than 41-41 during the 2024-25 season.