Orlando Magic Coach Jamahl Mosley Recounts Observations of Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony

On a podcast appearance, Jamahl Mosley had nothing but positive things to say about his former players and how that experience can rub off on the young Orlando Magic.

The current iteration of the Orlando Magic seems to emphasize one thing above all others for their fans: fun. Paolo Banchero is one of the most exciting rookies in recent memory, Jett Howard looks ready to show out, and Anthony Black will be able to play his style of basketball behind Orlando’s already existing guard depth.

Jamahl Mosley is no newcomer when it comes to fun basketball. As a player development and assistant coach for the mid-2000s Denver Nuggets, Mosley was exposed to fun basketball by Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony. On a recent appearance on the HoopsHype podcast, Mosley only had good things to say about the experience.

Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs meet at midcourt.  / © Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

“The time [Iverson and Anthony] were in Denver was such a joy and competitiveness," Mosley said. "There was always a level of competition, whether it was a shooting game or one-on-one. They were highly competitive. Every night you walked on the floor with them, you knew you had a chance to win. People also didn’t see the work ethic. People see the lights and the fun, but there was work behind it.” 

Mosley went on to talk about how much Anthony and Iverson valued practice and playing against each other behind closed doors, which is a tad different from the pair of all-time greats’ reputations.

In Orlando, as the team gears up for the season, there should be no shortage of competition. The guard room is deep and no one is guaranteed a starting spot. Franz Wagner and Banchero can go at it in order to determine whose team it will be moving forward, and all of it will be done in the name of fun basketball.

AI and Melo weren’t known for their insane work ethic, they were known for the swagger and smiles they had while on the court. But behind the scenes, there was no shortage of hard work being put in. Moseley being shown that early in his career should give Magic fans reason to be excited for the growth of this young team, who could take “fun basketball” to the next level, and start to string together some wins because of the makeup of the roster.