As we approach the halfway point of the 2025-26 NBA season, the Orlando Magic sit 22-18, 0.5 ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 6 seed in the East. Let’s distribute our mid-season report card to some of the Magic’s best players, shall we?!
Anthony Black: One
Black’s escape has been one of the highlights of the season so far. The former No. 6 overall pick is averaging 15.7 points on a career-best 56.5 percent true shooting, adding 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Orlando suffered numerous injuries, but Black was the biggest beneficiary. In 20 starts, he’s averaging 18.6 points and 4.8 assists on splits of 47.0/38.5/75.9.
It will be difficult for head coach Jamahl Mosley to fire him when the time comes. His improved ball handling, game finishing and 3-point shooting (from the corners) have been a sight to behold over the course of 40 games.
Desmond Bane: A-
I originally had Bane with a B+, but I lowered his grade. He’s averaging 19.2 points and 4.5 assists per game on 33.8 percent shooting from 3-point range, although he’s shooting 36.0 percent from deep on five attempts since the start of December. He already has five 30-point games with Orlando, including a trio of 37-point performances against the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat. Not to mention he achieved several feats late in the game.
Franz Wagner: One
Although Wagner missed the Magic’s last 16 games with a sprained ankle, he has been the Magic’s best player when healthy. He is averaging 22.7 points on a career-best 60.0 percent true shooting. Yes, Wagner still has a noticeable problem in his shooting. But his 3-point shooting returned to 36.0 percent on 4.2 attempts. Wagner’s creative edge, playfulness and defensive versatility have been greatly missed recently.
Paolo Banchero: D
It’s been a tough season for the Magic star. For the improvements he has made as a rebounder and playmaker, Banchero has the least efficient jump shooting season of his career. He’s also been terrible when it mattered most, with the exception of his miraculous game-winner against Brooklyn earlier this month. We rightly wonder if he will ever be an effective offensive player. Even with his intention to improve his diet, its effectiveness stagnated for four years. If not now, when will it come?
Jamahl Mosley: C
This has been a painfully average season for Mosley, directly influencing the Magic’s mediocre record. I’ll give him some grace: he’s had to deal with injuries to three of his best players, which hasn’t always made his rotations easy. Orlando’s depth has been tested. Mosley has also done a better job relying on his youth — particularly the Magic’s two rookies (Jase Richardson, Noah Penda) — as of late.
But they have regressed outside the top 10 defensively while being an average – albeit better – offense. At some point, when they are in the middle of their easiest period, they will have to accumulate victories.
