The Magic Insider

Magic Built 'Very Special' Foundation in Playoffs Debut

The Orlando Magic are out of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, but they have the groundwork for a team that can be a yearly contender in the Eastern Conference.

Jeremy Brener

May 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) and center Moritz Wagner
May 5, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) and center Moritz Wagner / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
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ORLANDO — This season, the Orlando Magic didn't end things the way they wanted to, but they achieved what they set out to do.

Even though the sting of Sunday's Game 7 loss still looms, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley isn't discounting the things the team accomplished during the year.

"I think we accomplished a lot," Mosley said. "I think we did a great job of handling the highs and lows of the season. ... I thought that was great. Our young guys learned how to win in this league which was what we've talked about from the beginning of the year. ... Those are things that you'll look back on and say, you got better, you grew and you built something very special for years to come."

It's taken three years with Mosley's culture shift to get the Magic here, and it's expected to grow even further after the coach signed an extension midway through the season. The plan is in place, the players know how to buy in, and they know how to win. They also know what it takes to get to the playoffs and win while they are there.

Their lack of success in the playoffs has them hungry for what's to come and they plan on fighting harder for homecourt advantage in the future and better executing plans in the moment, which was the reason behind the Game 7 loss.

So even though the Magic didn't go as far as they had hoped, they are certainly much closer to where they want to be than they were a year ago.

Related stories on the Orlando Magic

  • GAME 7 LOSS NECESSARY FOR MAGIC'S GROWTH: The Orlando Magic's season ended with their Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but that could be exactly what they need to improve to become a contender. CLICK HERE
  • MOSLEY, BANCHERO DEFEND WAGNER: Franz Wagner scored six points in the Orlando Magic's 106-94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. CLICK HERE
  • MAGIC'S ASCENT BEGINS: The Orlando Magic have been eliminated from the 2024 NBA Playoffs, but they should be back for many years to come. CLICK HERE
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Jeremy Brener

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.