When the Orlando Magic hired Jamahl Mosley as head coach in 2021, the team and Mosley faced challenging obstacles as they started a fresh rebuild.
Now, almost three years later, with Orlando contending for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, team officials and Mosley have decided to continue their partnership. The Magic and Mosley agreed to a contract extension that will run through the 2027-28 season, the team announced Tuesday. The new deal does not include a team option for the 2027-28 season, a league source said.
Orlando has compiled a 37-28 record this season and are in fifth place in the East standings, with first-time All-Star forward Paolo Banchero and third-year forward Franz Wagner emerging as cornerstone players and third-year guard Jalen Suggs developing into one of the league’s most tenacious perimeter defenders.
Mosley has been a driving force in the roster’s development. There’s the tangible: The Magic rank fifth leaguewide in defensive efficiency, limiting opponents to 111.3 points scored per 100 possessions. And then there’s the intangible: Orlando’s young roster has uncommon camaraderie and is widely regarded as one of the league’s highest-effort teams on defense, with players often crediting Mosley and his assistant coaches for fostering that team spirit.
Mosely’s initial contract, signed in 2021, ran through the 2024-25 season. So, Mosley’s new contract extension effectively adds three additional seasons: the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.
Why did the Magic do this now?
Mosley has earned the contract extension, with players and team executives alike praising him for the team’s growth and the players’ development. Simply put, it makes sense to continue the partnership, and there was no reason to wait. Furthermore, by adding more years to Mosley’s deal proactively, the team and Mosley have avoided any speculation about Mosley’s future that could have derailed the team’s momentum.
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