Are the Orlando Magic Zeroing in on a Championship?

Over thirty years ago, the NBA launched four new expansion teams to add to the league.

Florida was particularly blessed during this period, as the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic both set up shop in the state. Unfortunately for central Florida basketball fans, the Magic haven’t quite met the hype and reach of the Heat. 

The Magic have two Finals appearances under their belt, the most recent of which came in 2009. It’s a Finals run that fans won’t forget any time soon. The team came together under head coach Stan Van Gundy, posting a winning season thanks to stars like Dwight Howard and fan favorite Hedo Turkoglu. They then went on to take down the previous year’s champions, the Celtics, on the road to a Finals face-off against the Lakers that ended in defeat after five games.

Since then, it’s been a rollercoaster battle for the team. But that might not be the case for long. It looks like the Magic are finally gaining momentum. This year, they skated into the NBA Playoffs thanks to a strong regular season performance. 

Though Orlando Magic aren’t ranked at the top of the list of favorites, they’re starting to make waves with analysts and fans alike. They’ve also become a dark horse selection for bettors who want to find an underdog to back this year. In fact, you can find a lot of information about the NBA playoffs on Oddschecker, which includes a deep dive into the Magic. 

Regardless of the outcome of this year’s playoff battle, there’s plenty for Magic fans to look forward to. There are more than a few positive signs that the team could finally be zeroing in on another Finals appearance—and its first championship win. Let’s count down these signs.

Year-over-year Improvements

This year, the Orlando Magic headed into the playoffs as the No. 5 seed—a massive improvement from last year’s playoff absence and a more solid entry than the Miami Heat, the No. 8 seed. This marks the first time that the Magic have entered the playoffs since 2020.

Last season, the team ended the regular season with a 34-48 record, landing toward the bottom end of the Eastern Conference in thirteenth place. That was already 12 games more than in the 2021-22 season. This season, the Magic took their performance to a new level. They ended the regular season with a record of 47-35, marking yet another year of steady improvement.

Jamahl Mosley Has a Plan

If you’ve been paying close attention to the rise of the Magic, then you probably know the name of the man behind their changing stars: head coach Jamahl Mosley. Mosley has an extensive career in the NBA, first as a player and later as a coach. Before he joined the Magic in 2021, he had served as a developmental coach for the Nuggets, an assistant coach for the Cavaliers, and as a defensive coordinator for the Mavericks. 

In only his third year at the helm, Mosley has flipped the Florida franchise into a Finals hopeful and a dark horse favorite. In fact, he recently signed a four-year extension with the team, highlighting approval from the front office. Will Mosley be able to lead them toward a championship win during this time?

Paolo Banchero is Sharpening His Skills

Along with Mosley’s solid leadership, there’s another reason that the Magic have seen a huge boost in their odds: Paolo Banchero. In 2022, the Magic drafted Banchero, who quickly proved his worth by becoming the NBA’s Rookie of the Year selection, even matching records set by LeBron James. That season, Banchero became the first teenager to score 25 points, while also posting five rebounds and five assists. 

Since then, Banchero has been one of the hottest topics in the league and definitely on the Magic’s roster. His style and work ethic are unbeaten. Earlier this year, he was named in the All-Star Team for the first time. 

Along with Banchero, Franz Wagner is yet another All-Star caliber player who is pushing the Magic to new heights. Though he hasn’t officially been named an All-Star, the future is bright for Wagner—especially after a stellar performance with the Magic in his second season in the NBA.

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