Magic Rookie Anthony Black 'Getting More Comfortable' With Minutes Increase

Orlando Magic rookie Anthony Black has gotten more and more opportunities this season.

ORLANDO - Orlando Magic rookie guard Anthony Black played 33 minutes in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, tied for the most he's played in a game all season.

With more and more game action, Black has gotten more comfortable on the court and has become a more valuable piece for the Magic. 

"Really just getting more settled in," Black said. "Game by game I feel like I'm getting more comfortable and finding my spots. I'm just trying to take it day by day, just be aggressive when I'm out there and keep disrupting the game on defense. But I definitely think it's starting to slow down. Just every game it slows down just a little bit more."

Anthony Black is averaging 1.2 steals per 36 minutes for his rookie season.  / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

In the loss, he finished with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field along with four rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal. The 13 points is tied for the second most he's had in a game this year, behind a 23-point outburst against the Washington Wizards. 

Orlando drafted Black out of Arkansas with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He has already proven to be an effective defender, averaging 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per 36 minutes. He also posts a 1.5 defensive basketball plus/minus, which is good for 28th in the league, impressive for someone who hasn't played many minutes.

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The Magic will be trying to snap a three-game losing streak when they take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday at 3 p.m ET.