The Orlando Magic have agreed to a four-year contract extension with head coach Jamal Mosley, crediting him with leading the franchise to the NBA playoffs.
ESPN Adrian Wojnarowski We first reported this transaction.
“Jamar and his staff have done a great job not only this season but since we hired him in 2021,” said President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman. “His preparation, work ethic, ability to connect with players, and the passion he brings to his job every day will lead to positive results on and off the court. We are confident Jamal will lead the Magic for many years to come.” I am very happy to have it.”
The Magic are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 37-28 record, and their .569 winning percentage is expected to be their best since 2010-11.
What sets Orlando apart this year is their defense. According to NBA.com, the team ranks fifth in defensive rating (112.6) and fourth in steals (8.1 per game).
“Coach Moss, I give him credit,” Paolo Banchero told Andscape's Mark J. Spears in November. “He comes back from training camp with the No. 1 defense in the league. “I said I wanted to be on the team,” he said. “That's what we've been doing. A lot of credit to the coaches for teaching us that and the players for doing it.”
The Magic haven't had much energy since trading Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012. The Magic failed to advance to the postseason for six straight years, winning a total of two games in their 2019 and 2020 playoff trips with back-to-back first-round losses.
When Mosley arrived, Orlando had already hit the reset button by trading away Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier. The 45-year-old has helped oversee a steady turnaround, with his homegrown talent and young players developing under his tutelage.
Banchero and Franz Wagner are both averaging over 20 points per game. Wendell Carter Jr. filled the hole left in the frontcourt by Vucevic and emerged as an excellent stretch big. Cole Anthony's three-year, $39.1 million contract extension is evidence of how well he has settled into the sixth-man role.
Mosley's impact is undisputed, he is more than deserving of a new contract, and the Magic were out of commission for so long before his arrival that they can't take anything for granted about his future. I couldn't.
