The Orlando Magic point guard spot has felt like a game of musical chairs for the better part of three years. Honestly, if you asked a casual fan who starts at the one in Orlando, they’d probably guess Jalen Suggs or maybe still think Cole Anthony is coming off the bench to drop twenty. But things have changed fast in 2026.
The reality on the ground at the Kia Center is a lot more interesting than the national media lets on.
While Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner get the "star" labels, the actual engine of this team's recent 22-18 start has been the massive leap from Anthony Black. After a couple of seasons where he looked like a "project" player with a shaky jumper, Black has suddenly turned into the exact kind of jumbo playmaker the Magic front office envisioned when they took him sixth overall back in 2023.
The Jalen Suggs Hybrid Role
You can’t talk about the Orlando Magic point guard rotation without starting with Jalen Suggs. He’s the heart of the team. But is he a true point guard? Most scouts will tell you he’s more of a "wrecking ball" who happens to bring the ball up sometimes.
Suggs is currently putting up about 15.0 points and 4.7 assists per game this season. Those are solid numbers. However, his real value remains on the defensive end, where he’s still a nightmare for opposing ball-handlers. The problem is that his aggressive style leads to those nagging injuries—like the knee issue he’s been nursing lately—which opens the door for other guys to step in.
Why Anthony Black Is the Future
While Suggs was out or limited over the last month, Anthony Black basically kicked the door down. We aren't talking about marginal improvement here. We’re talking about a guy who just dropped a career-high 38 points on the Denver Nuggets and has been averaging over 21 points since Franz Wagner went down with an ankle injury in early December.
The "Killer Bees" (Banchero, Bane, and Black) have become the talk of Central Florida.
Black’s development is weirdly reminiscent of a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s 6'7", he uses his length to get to the rim, and—most importantly—his three-point shot is finally real. He's hitting 36.4% on catch-and-shoot opportunities this season. If you're an Orlando fan, that's the number that matters most.
The Tyus Jones Factor
One of the most underrated moves Jeff Weltman made was bringing in Tyus Jones. He’s the "adult in the room." When the game gets chaotic or the young guys start turning it over, Coach Jamahl Mosley throws Tyus in there to settle things down.
Jones doesn’t put up eye-popping stats—usually around 3 points and 2 assists in limited minutes—but he has the best assist-to-turnover ratio on the team. He’s the insurance policy. If Black or Suggs gets into foul trouble, you know exactly what you're getting from Tyus.
What Happened to Cole Anthony?
If you haven't been following closely, you might have missed that Cole Anthony is no longer in Orlando. It was a bit of a shock to the system. After five years as the emotional sparkplug of the city, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies (and eventually landed with the Milwaukee Bucks) as part of the massive deal that brought Desmond Bane to Orlando.
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It was a "growing up" move for the franchise.
Bane has been everything the Magic needed. He’s currently leading the team in scoring at 19.2 points per game and providing the floor spacing that Banchero and Wagner never had. But losing Cole meant losing a specific type of bench energy. The Magic bet that Anthony Black was ready for those minutes, and so far, that bet is paying off.
The Defensive Identity
Orlando is currently 13th in the league in defensive rating, and a huge part of that is the length of their guards. When you run a lineup with a 6'7" Orlando Magic point guard like Black, a 6'6" Bane, and a 6'10" Franz Wagner, there are simply no easy passes for the opponent.
It’s a "switch-everything" nightmare.
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Most teams look for small, shifty guards to run their offense. Orlando went the opposite direction. They want to beat you with size and physicality. It's why they've been able to hang around the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference despite missing key players for chunks of the season.
Misconceptions About the Magic Backcourt
People keep saying the Magic need a "true" point guard like Trae Young or Darius Garland. Honestly? I don't think they do.
The modern NBA is moving toward positionless basketball. When you have Paolo Banchero acting as a point-forward (averaging nearly 5 assists), you don't need a traditional 6'0" guard dominating the ball. You need shooters who can defend multiple positions.
- Misconception 1: The Magic can't shoot. (They're 16th in the league in scoring now, much improved thanks to Bane and Da Silva).
- Misconception 2: Jalen Suggs is the primary playmaker. (It's a committee, often led by Banchero).
- Misconception 3: Anthony Black is a bust. (He’s currently a top-6 favorite for Most Improved Player).
What to Watch For Next
The trade deadline is looming, and while the Magic look set, keep an eye on how they manage the return of a fully healthy roster. When Wendell Carter Jr. and Franz Wagner are back at 100%, the rotation is going to get tight.
Jase Richardson—the rookie out of Michigan State—has also been surprisingly ready for NBA minutes. He’s a 6'1" guard who plays much bigger than his size, and he might steal some of those backup minutes if Tyus Jones or Jalen Suggs misses more time.
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If you’re looking for actionable insights on where this team is going, keep your eyes on the Anthony Black/Jalen Suggs minutes. If Coach Mosley starts starting them together more often, it means the Magic are fully committed to the "Big Guard" era.
Keep an eye on the defensive switching metrics. When Black and Suggs are on the floor together, Orlando's defensive ceiling is top-three in the league. If they can keep this group healthy through the spring, a top-four seed isn't just a dream—it's the expectation. Watch the turnover numbers; if Black keeps his assists high and his turnovers under three per game, he's officially arrived.