ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic come into the 2025-26 season with high expectations as they prepare to tip off their opener Wednesday night at Kia Center against the Miami Heat.

NBA media and sports betting books have projected they could finish the regular season as high as the third-seeded team in the Eastern Conference. 

What You Need To Know

 Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley wants the Magic to reach their full potential

 Forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are fully healthy after both missed weeks with injuries last season

 The Magic have built this year’s team for the long term

Last season, they were expected to make a jump from finishing the 2023-24 regular season with 47 wins and the fifth seeding in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but injuries to their top four scorers — forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, guard Jalen Suggs and center/power forward Moe Wagner — turned the season into a year of learning. They still made the playoffs, but with 41 victories.

“It’s exciting to have this group together right now,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Walking into the season, you want to be fully healthy. Got guys slowly working their way back, Jalen and then Moe. To have this group on the court together during training camp, it’s very special to have.”

This is Mosley’s fifth season as the Magic’s coach.

He has led this group to the playoffs the past two seasons, and to get it to the next level, Mosley said training camp was important. 

“Just consistent work, understanding the habits we have to have every single day, the work that we’re putting in,” said Mosley, talking about the habits the Magic need to build. “They understand that and know what it takes to get to a certain level.”

In the previous two seasons, Orlando has learned what it takes to get to the playoffs. Now the team must learn how to win in the playoffs.

This season, Mosley is focused on the process and building a foundation that can last. 

Orlando’s owner and management team have invested heavily in that foundation. President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman gave up last season’s free-agent acquisition, guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope; homegrown first-round pick and offensive spark plug Cole Anthony; plus four first-round draft picks and a pick swap to acquire shooting guard Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies to help boost the team’s 3-point shooting and open up the offense. Franz Wagner enters the first year of a five-year, $224 million rookie contract extension and Suggs begins the first year of his five-year, $150 million rookie extension. The Magic also extended the rookie contract of Banchero, their All-Star forward, for five years and $240 million, and that deal kicks in next season.

“We’ve built this team for years to come,” Mosley said. “What Jeff [Weltman] and his group has done is put a group of young guys together that can grow together and continue to get better together and learn how to win together, and that’s what these guys are ready to do.”

You can have all the talent in the world, but you need a coach. 

If this team was an orchestra, Mosley is the conductor.

Knowing when to set the right tempo or deploy the correct lineup is his specialty. 

Mosley’s job is make sure this team reaches its highest potential.