Magic Report Cards: Anthony Black Experiences Rookie Pains

Anthony Black made an impact in his first season with the Orlando Magic.

Jeremy Brener | May 15, 2024

Mar 8, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) drives past New York / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO — When the Orlando Magic selected Anthony Black with the No. 6 overall pick, many were surprised by the decision to select another point guard.

With Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz already in the rotation, Black's role seemed to be questionable. However, he was thrust into the starting lineup early in the year when Fultz went down with an injury.

The Magic were 19-14 when Black was in the starting lineup, and there was a sense that he wasn't entirely comfortable at the beginning of the year. However, as the season moved forward, he became much more comfortable.

Black's defense was the reason why the Magic were enthralled by him coming out of Arkansas. But his offense is what needs improving.

There were moments where that offensive potential shone through, especially when he scored his season-high 23 points against the Washington Wizards on Dec. 26.

There's hope that Black will have a bigger role next season as Fultz enters free agency. And with more reps and time, he'll emerge into a complementary piece of the puzzle alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Grade: B-

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Published May 15, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.