The Orlando Magic have been a hard-nosed, stubborn, physically intimidating defensive team under head coach Jamahl Mosley.
Since ranking 17th in defensive efficiency in 2021-22, the Magic improved to 11th in 2022-23 and then second in each of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
For the talent that tantalizes on the other end of the floor in the form of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the team’s identity is built on a long, lanky brick house of a defense. When Desmond Bane came over, even with all the offensive excitement, the expectation was he would be additive on the defensive side of the ball as well.
Then, the 2025-26 season began and that brick house of a defense became more renowned for its sliding doors. Orlando started 1-4 featuring losses to the Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons, where they surrendered 271 points combined. A Nov. 4 loss to the Atlanta Hawks saw the Magic allow another 127 points, leaving many wondering what had become of Orlando’s core identity.
After a mediocre 4-6 start, though, the Magic have now won nine of their last 12 games. Orlando also topped its NBA Cup group to earn hosting rights for the NBA Cup quarterfinals against the Miami Heat on Tuesday. They are increasingly looking like the team some projected to be among the contenders to make it out of the East.
Over this span, the Magic have functioned as the sixth-best offense and fifth-best defense. They have earned some strong wins over the New York Knicks (twice) and Detroit Pistons. They ought to have beaten the 13-4 Houston Rockets, too, but coughed up an 11-point fourth quarter lead before losing in overtime. Here’s a deeper dive into what the Magic have gotten right of late.
Return Of A Defensive Identity
Through the first five games, the Magic were playing like a bottom-10 defense. After 10 games, they still sat 18th, allowing 115.8 points per 100 possessions.
A lot of that came down to struggling to contain dribble penetration, which led to the defense collapsing and being compromised more often. With length on the floor that usually causes panicked dribbling, shrinks passing lanes and protects the rim, it did feel like a matter of time before things would be sorted.
The only major personnel change in the rotation was replacing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with Desmond Bane. Last season, the Magic ranked sixth in deflections and steals while leading the league in blocked shots. Through the first 10 games of this season, though, they dropped to 20th in steals and 28th in deflections.
It’s worth noting Caldwell-Pope finished second in deflections for the Magic last season with 157, trailing only Anthony Black’s 183. Goga Bitadze also saw a lot of playing time after Mo Wagner’s season-ending injury and he was fourth with 117.
Jalen Suggs is leading the charge this season and, after the team’s slow start, Orlando has ranked among the top five in deflections and top 10 in steals over the last 12 games. That is such a central part of what the Magic want to do and it has completely revitalized their identity.
Finding An Offensive Groove
The sense of urgency the Magic displayed in giving up the assets they did to acquire Bane was reflective of an offense that ranked in the bottom 10 two seasons ago and bottom five last season. Infamously, they haven’t finished better than 20th in offensive rating since 2011-12.
Once again, through the first 10 games, the Magic were languishing at 20th in offensive rating. Bane was shooting just 29.3 percent from three as he struggled to find his rhythm within the offense while Banchero was attempting five fewer shots than last season but still had an effective field goal percentage under 50.
Losing Banchero to a groin injury has created a bit of an awkward conversation. The Magic offense has flourished over the past three weeks, ranking eighth in offensive rating since Nov. 10. The biggest change we’ve seen is more players touching the ball as they’re making 11 more passes per game and these aren’t passes for the sake of it. Orlando’s assist points created have jumped from 61.9 to 68.2.
Jett Howard three, good team ball movement pic.twitter.com/efK8hPQNYT
— The Magic Way (@MagicFilmRoom) November 21, 2025
The ball is moving crisply and purposefully yet carefully. After ranking 23rd in turnover rate through the first 10 games, Orlando has the second-best turnover rate over the last 12 games. The Magic are scoring 97.9 points per 100 half-court possessions, which is league average but a meaningful bump from the 95.5 points they averaged the first 10 games.
Bane has steadily increased his outside shooting efficiency and showcased his playmaking with the added responsibility after Banchero’s injury. Throw in being a pretty strong offensive rebounding team and constantly getting to the free-throw line and that’s all they need when the defense is clicking.
While good in transition through the first 10 games, they have been the league’s best transition team over this recent winning stretch. Orlando has the highest transition frequency and seventh-best efficiency, adding a league-best 5.1 points per 100 transition possessions.
Black Emerges As Magic X-Factor
A huge factor on both ends of the floor has been Black’s play.
Taking significant strides here in his third season, he’s showing an exhilarating combination of being slithery and athletic at the same time. On one play, he could be attacking with a head of steam and throwing down a mean tomahawk jam. On another, he could be sizing opponents up in the half-court before using a series of dribble moves and excellent footwork to get defenders off balance and finish with a sweet touch.
Seeing increased usage as the Magic look for more scoring options without Banchero has helped Black top the 20-point mark three times in the last couple weeks, including a 31-point explosion on just 17 shots against the Sixers last week. He’s increased his scoring average by nearly four points this season while shooting a career-best 53.7 percent on twos.
Anthony Black first-half highlights at PHI:
27 PTS
10-14 FG
4-5 3P
17 MIN off the bench pic.twitter.com/phUEdPJA8T— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 26, 2025
With his ability to attack the basket, Black will want to improve his free-throw shooting. He’s sitting at just 67.9 percent this season and 71 percent for his career. He’s had his moments as a 3-point shooter this season but is still at a very streaky 33.8 percent.
After getting drafted, much of Black’s expectations were built up on the defensive side of the ball, which is still his trump card. Black can defend multiple positions and is an absolute ball hawk. He’s recorded at least one steal in all but four games so far.
Magic Set To Welcome Back Banchero
Now comes an interesting wrinkle in the Magic season. The man averaging 21.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists is listed as available for Friday’s game against Miami.
Over the last 12 games, Franz Wagner has averaged 23.6 points and 4.1 assists while Bane isn’t far behind at 22.9 points and five assists. Four other players are averaging double-digit scoring. How much does that change upon Banchero’s return?
Mosley’s Magic sans Banchero have shown a path to being a healthy offense. Banchero has had a good chunk of time to watch from the sidelines and understand exactly what’s making things tick right now, the ball movement and the benefits of everyone “eating.”
One expects the defensive rhythm to remain as the Magic have proven in the past they can be plenty good with Banchero on that side of the ball. Now is Banchero’s opportunity to showcase his undoubtedly impressive offensive repertoire can be genuinely additive to the team as a whole.
