As far as most fans were concerned, the Orlando Magic won the 2025 offseason. Desmond Bane’s addition looked enticing as the new season approached, and most NBA viewers were excited for his team-up with Paolo Banchero.
However, the team’s hot start has fizzled out. And while the championship might just be a distant dream, reports have already highlighted tensions between Banchero and Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley.
Reports Hinted at Rising Issues Between Orlando Magic Star Paolo Banchero and HC Jamahl Mosley
In a recent report, RG revealed that their sources have picked up a “growing disconnect” between Banchero and Mosley. They reported that communication between the two is “strained”, raising red flags about their functioning as a team.
“Sources familiar with the situation said communication between Banchero and Mosley has become almost non-existent during timeouts, and the star forward often avoids eye contact when the coach addresses the team in huddles,” RG wrote in their recent report.
In fact, one of their sources referred to their locker room as “coach less”. “[Mosley] needs to figure it out fast. This is on track to go from being the fun young team that has a lot of potential to being the disappointment that gets the coach fired,” the source told RG.
Mosley and Banchero Have Failed to Take Responsibility for the Team’s On-Court Issues
That being said, the Magic’s issues could also be connected with the team’s current glaring on-court issues. The problems became evident during the team’s 111-107 loss against the Boston Celtics, as both Banchero and Mosley were visibly frustrated.
The press questioned Mosley’s rotation postgame, the head coach refusing to take responsibility as he said: “Seventeen turnovers for 29 points. It has nothing to do with the rotation. Thank you.”
Banchero struggled to answer a question about the team’s current pace’s correlation with the turnovers. The 22-year-old tried to deflect the question, avoiding responsibility for the team’s loss.
“I mean, I don’t know. I don’t know about that one,” Banchero responded. When asked to elaborate, Banchero maintained that not all the turnovers were due to the pace of play. He did, however, admit that they need to be better with the ball.
“Yeah I mean, I wouldn’t say all of the turnovers are because of the pace. I know all of my turnovers weren’t because of that. So, I wouldn’t just say it’s because of that. I just think we can be better with the ball. It’s pretty simple,” Banchero explained.
He added that the team is just trying to adjust, and one isn’t going to be able to “play in transition the whole night.”
Currently ranked 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 5-6 win-loss record, the Magic will play their next game against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, November 12.
