Florida Sports Wire

ORLANDO -   The Orlando Magic have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Head Coach   Jamahl Mosley , President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. The contract extension runs through the 2027-28 season. “Jamahl (Mosley) and his staff have done a tremendous job not only this season, but since we hired him back in 2021,” said Weltman. “His preparation, work ethic, ability to connect with the players, and passion he brings to the job every day brings positive results, both on the court and off. We are very happy to have Jamahl lead the Magic for years to come.”   This season, Mosley has led Orlando to a 37-28 record (.569), good for fifth-best in the Eastern Conference and just one-half game out of fourth. The Magic won their 35 th  game on Mar. 3, surpassing last season’s win total with 21 games remaining. Mosley was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October/November 2023, becoming the sixth coach in franchise histor...

ORLANDO ( www.sportsdayjax.com ) - The Orlando Magic have exercised their third-year team option on forward   Paolo Banchero , as well as their fourth-year team options on guard   Jalen Suggs   and forward   Franz Wagner , President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deals are not disclosed. All three players are now signed through the 2024-25 season. Banchero (6’10”, 250, 11/12/02) was originally selected in the first round (first overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft by Orlando. He played and started in 72 games during his rookie campaign last season with the Magic, averaging a team-high 20.0 ppg., 6.9 rpg. and 3.7 apg. in 33.7 minpg. Banchero was named the 2022-23 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the 2022-23 NBA All-Rookie First Team.   Suggs (6’5”, 212, 6/3/01) was originally selected in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft by Orlando. He has played in 101 career NB...

The Orlando Magic have signed free agents Trevelin Queen (TREV-uh-lin) and Brandon Williams,  President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deals are not disclosed. Queen (6’6”, 190, 2/25/97) played in seven games last season (2022-23) with Indiana, averaging 3.0 ppg. and 2.4 rpg. in 10.0 minpg. He also appeared in 24 games (15 starts) with Fort Wayne of the NBA G League, averaging 22.6 ppg., 6.5 rpg., 4.5 apg. and 2.13 stlpg. in 34.3 minpg.   Not drafted by an NBA franchise, Queen has played in 17 career NBA regular season games with Houston and Indiana, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 1.9 rpg. in 8.5 minpg. He has also played in 58 career NBA G League regular season games (40 starts) with Rio Grande Valley and Fort Wayne, averaging 20.2 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 3.9 apg. and 2.24 stlpg. in 30.8 minpg. During the 2021-22 season, Queen was named NBA G League Most Valuable Player and led Rio Grande Valley to the 2022 NBA G League cha...

ORLANDO ( www.sportsdayjax.com )– Orlando Magic Head Coach  Jamahl Mosley   has been named the head coach of the 2023 USA Men’s Select Team, which will train with the USA Basketball Men’s National Team as it prepares for the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup, Aug. 25-Sep. 10 in Manila. The USA Select Team features a roster of 11 current NBA players, along with three veteran players with NBA, NBA G League, international and USA Basketball experience. Members of the USA Select Team will train daily with the USA Men’s National Team from Aug. 3-6 in Las Vegas.   Mosley served as an assistant coach on the 2021 USA Select Team  and as an assistant coach at the 2018 USA Basketball Men’s National Team mini-camp . He will be joined on the bench by assistant coaches Jim Boylen (Indiana Pacers) and Matt Painter (Purdue University).   “It’s an honor to be selected to lead the USA Men’s Select Team and I am truly grateful,” Mosley said. “After serving as an assistant with the ...

ORLANDO ( www.sportsdayjax.com ) - The Orlando Magic have selected guard Anthony Black in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2023 NBA Draft. The Magic also selected guard-forward Jett Howard in the first round (11th overall), Black (6’7”, 200, 1/20/04) played and started in all 36 games last season as a freshman at the University of Arkansas, averaging 12.8 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 3.9 apg. and 2.06 stlpg. in 34.8 minpg.  He was named to the 2022-23 All-SEC Second Team (coaches), as well as the 2022-23 All-SEC Freshman Team. Black led the Razorbacks and SEC in minutes played, while setting Arkansas freshman records in games played, games started, minutes played (1,253), steals (74) and free throw attempts (190).  He was the only player in the SEC to rank in the top 25 in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocked shots. Black graduated from Duncanville High School in Duncanville, TX. As a senior (2021-22), he was named a McDonald’s All-American and played in the Iverson ...

The Orlando Magic announced today that the organization has begun the process of bringing an NBA Development League (D-League) franchise to Central or Northern Florida. The franchise would be a direct one-to-one affiliate of the Orlando Magic, with the hope of beginning play for the 2017-18  season. The franchise  is sending an RFP to eight locations seeking the best home for the Development League club.  Locations receiving the initial RFP include: Daytona Beach (Ocean Center); Estero (Germain Arena); Fort Myers (Lee Civic County Center); Jacksonville (Veterans Memorial Arena); Kissimmee (Silver Spurs Arena); Lakeland (Lakeland Center); Orlando/ESPN Wide World of Sports (HP Field House); Orlando/UCF (CFE Arena). "Our goal is to have our Development League team closer to home, and we are beginning our due diligence to look at options in Central and Northern Florida," said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. "Having our D-League team closer to Orlando would give us the ...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Billy Donovan has stepped down as head coach of the Florida men's basketball team to take the same position with the Oklahoma City Thunder, director of athletics Jeremy Foley announced on Thursday. Donovan leaves Florida after 19 seasons leading the men's basketball program to unprecedented levels of success, winning two national championships, reaching four Final Fours and claiming six SEC titles, posting a 467-186 (.715) record with the Gators. "While we are certainly extremely sad to see Billy go, the primary feeling I have is one of gratitude for what he has done here at Florida," Foley said. "Billy and Florida basketball have been synonymous for a long time now, and our program would not have reached the heights it has without him. The legacy he leaves here is one of personal and professional excellence, and we wish him, Christine and the Donovan family continued success and happiness as they make this move. There is no better person...