The Magic Insider

The Magic's x-factor is becoming the main factor

Anthony Black's development changes the game for Orlando
Ryan Kaminski|
Nov 25, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) reacts with guard Jalen Suggs (4) after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Nov 25, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) reacts with guard Jalen Suggs (4) after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

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Orlando Magic


Anthony Black continues to prove the doubters wrong, getting better each and every day.

Exploding for a Career-High 31 PTS in Philadelphia, AB hit the ground running and touched the sky jumping, sprinting and leaping up and down the court for dunk after dunk after layup after dunk, with a few threes in between for good measure.

Black broke his career-high of 23 PTS halfway through the first half, finishing with 31 PTS after drilling 4 three-pointers, throwing down 3 dunks and 1 alley-layup while scoring at an efficiency of 83% TS%.

This ABomb going off broke two big Orlando Magic team records:

51 PTS in the 2nd QTR, the most points the team has ever scored in one quarter
86 PTS in the First Half, the most points the team has ever scored in one half.

Tracy McGrady was so impressed at halftime, he even said he got worried AB was about to break one of T-Mac's Magic scoring records.

Black's role for this team is not always clear – some days he’s the spot starter, some days he’s the sixth man, some days he’s initiating the offense, some days he standing in the corner; but, one thing this Magic team always needs from Anthony Black is that defensive tenacity and versatility to guard multiple positions, that energy and effort he brings every night.

When he's popping off from the three while attacking and finishing at the rack at will, AB turns into a two-way downhill force of nature.



As the team saw last season, when Anthony Black finds his rhythm on the offensive end on any given night, this team becomes incredibly hard to beat.

The clear X-Factor swinging games last year, the Magic lived and died by how well AB played some nights, mostly due to Orlando's other creators being hurt so often they needed Black’s shot creation just to keep the offense afloat.

Anthony Blacks' W/L splits for Orlando in 2024-25:

39 Wins: 11 PPG on 58% TS% (47-41-80) with a +15 +/-
39 Losses: 8 PPG on 46% TS% (37-22-73) with a -17.4 +/-

So far in 2025-26 through a quarter-season 20-game small sample size, AB's production has been more stable whether the team wins or loses, yet is still noticeably more active on defense, more careful with the ball, and more efficient all-around, especially from beyond the arc in Magic wins:

11 Wins: 150 PTS (13 PPG) - 34 AST / 19 TO - 62% TS% - 38% 3P% - 19 STL
8 Losses: 94 PTS (12 PPG) - 18 AST / 20 TO - 53% TS% - 25% 3P% - 8 STL

This year, Orlando has more guards in the mix who can create, allowing Black to be used more sparingly on ball, to pick his spots more efficiently, but the team is still using him as much as last year.

Most of the time, Black spreads the floor around Orlando's starters to attack closeouts while remaining one of the first on-ball options off the bench for his ability to initiate Orlando's offense.

AB seems to be at his most dangerous attacking the rack either running the fast break or with the help of the screen out of pick-and-roll or handoff.

Anthony Black has made a huge leap as a finisher near the rim, making 77% of his shots with 0-3 ft, partly due to the ball-handling and rim-finishing work he's put in with Magic Assistant coach, God Shammgod.

Black shows off distinct downhill footwork; he credits this to playing other sports growing up, like running wide receiver drills in football.


When AB lets loose his hesi start stop burst north-south game combined with his great feel, the game slows down for him into deciding whether to attack the rack, finish at the rim, hunt the foul, or look for the three-point kick out.

If Anthony Black continues to put things together, impacting winning on both ends consistently, it will be harder and harder for Orlando to keep him off the court.

Published
Ryan Kaminski
RYAN KAMINSKI

Ryan is a basketball scout data analyst who has been covering the Orlando Magic, NBA, and NBA Draft with a focus on roster building strategy, data analytics, film breakdowns, and player development since 2017. He is credentialed media for the Orlando Magic along with top high schools in Central Florida where he scouts talent in marquee matchups at Montverde Academy, IMG Academy, Oak Ridge, and the NBPA Top-100 Camp. He generates basketball data visualizations, formerly with The BBall Index. He has two B.A.s from Florida State University in Business Management and Business Marketing. Twitter/YouTube/Substack: @BeyondTheRK

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