Jamahl Mosley Shares Magic's Mindset Heading Into Season

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said he's more focused on growth than wins and losses.

ORLANDO - Can the Orlando Magic take the next step this season?

That's the pivotal question facing them, though taking the next step could be interpreted in different ways. Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley went on the HoopsHype Podcast and shared what his team's focus is heading into next season and what he hopes to see from them. 

"Our mindset is how do we play our best basketball come April and May? We’re going to continue to grow," Mosley said on the HoopsHype Podcast. "Every team is going to say we want to make the playoffs and win a championship. Every team says it. I want to focus our team on not necessarily the wins and the losses, but are we getting better?"

Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley / Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Playing its best basketball at the end of the season would be a step in the right direction for the Magic, though it shouldn't just stop at that. The Magic should be playing its best basketball in meaningful games that either decide its playoff fate, or they should be fighting for playoff seeding. 

If Orlando is going to continue to grow, it needs its best players, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, to improve on strong 2022-23 seasons. Wagner showed signs of growth last season, increasing his points (18.6) and assists (3.5) per game compared to his first year as a pro. Banchero put together one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory, becoming the first player since LeBron James in 2003 to average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. 

Markelle Fultz, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs are among the other players who hold the keys to a successful season for a young Magic team. 

If Mosley wants his team to grow, Orlando will need to play meaningful late in the season. If the Magic are in the thick of the playoff hunt in 2023-24, they'll be better because of it.