Jamahl Mosley Issues a Challenge to Orlando Magic Draft Picks

With the Orlando Magic trying to win games, Mosley will be looking for Anthony Black and Jett Howard to provide defensive help early on.

The Orlando Magic is expected to be one of the better defensive teams in the NBA this season, if not the very best. With length and defensive hustle provided by Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, it appears as if the Magic will have at least four elite defenders, maybe more if Jonathan Isaac makes a full recovery.

Of course, defense is a team effort, and the two recent draft picks – Anthony Black and Jett Howard – will be expected to be positive assets on that end of the floor. Head coach Jamahl Mosley was not willing to cut the rookies any slack on defense or effort.

Jahmal Mosley is eager to find success with the young Magic.  / Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

“Well, first, it's their journey. And obviously, it's gonna get acclimated to how we, how we do things, and they've done a great job of working over the summer and understanding what we're asking," Mosley said. "But defensively, it's that's going to be the first thing, you know, how do you sit down and guard? Can you come in and compete against these guys every single day? And I think they've, you know, they've taken that challenge on."

To their credit, Black and Howard admitted a transition to the NBA won’t be without its challenges, but they can both make the adjustment. 

“I think that’s how it should be for anybody, no matter where you were picked or anything like that,” Black said. 

Howard seemed to agree.

“You want that at the end of the day, [to just be] in an environment and a culture that’s for that rather than something being given to you," Howard said. "That’s big on the Magic for saying that.”

While there will be growing pains and time for the rookies to figure out their roles and responsibilities, as the Magic try to win games they will offer little margin for error. If Black and Howard can’t play with grit on the defensive end, Mosley will have no problem yanking them from the rotation.