ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic face mounting pressure. They have struggled to meet expectations after the blockbuster trade for Desmond Bane. The relationship between Paolo Banchero and Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley has entered the spotlight as tensions rise.
Magic’s Paolo Banchero And Jamahl Mosley No Longer See ‘Eye-to-Eye’
League Rumors Fuel Speculation
On the latest episode of The Hoop Collective Podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said “a lot of talk around the league” suggests Banchero and Mosley “might not be seeing eye to eye.”
Rumors have circulated all season that something feels off between the two. Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal reported a disconnect in November. The Magic organization has felt the impact. Coaches and players have shown “noticeable tension during games and timeouts.”
On-Court Struggles Add Pressure
Banchero signed a five-year rookie max extension in the offseason. He has not taken the expected leap after winning Rookie of the Year and making the All-Star team. The 23-year-old averages 21.9 points. He shoots a career-low 29.2 percent from three. That mark sits below his career average of 22.3 points.
Banchero has drawn scrutiny for his jump shooting struggles. Among 137 players with 75 or more pull-up jumpers, he ranks 136th in effective field goal percentage. He shoots 37 percent from mid-range. He shoots 29.2 percent from three.
Mosley Responds to the Chatter
The Magic sit eighth in the East at 24-22. They recently snapped a four-game losing streak against Miami. Mosley has coached the team since 2021. He led Orlando to the playoffs in 2024 and 2025.
Pre-game in Miami I asked #Magic coach Jamahl Mosley about Tim MacMahon’s comments on an ESPN podcast that he and Paolo Banchero “might not be seeing eye-to-eye.”
“Yeah, I don’t really have reactions to that,” Mosley said. “I think that’s outside opinion…”
Full remarks: pic.twitter.com/rt6gQKkdMz
— Jason Beede (@therealBeede) January 28, 2026
Before facing Miami, Mosley addressed the chatter surrounding him and Banchero. He brushed off the speculation in comments to The Orlando Sentinel.
“Yeah, I don’t really have reactions to that,” he said. “I think that’s outside opinion. Everybody’s fair to have their opinion on that. What me and Paolo have is a constant level of competitiveness. We want to find a way to get a win.”
“No one’s happy when you’re on a losing streak. And there shouldn’t be happiness on a losing streak. I don’t give too much to those versus what’s going on in our locker room. Our guys have that edge. They want to find a way to get a win.”
Mosley did not deny a rift. He chose to downplay it instead. That response will not quiet scrutiny. The league will continue to monitor the situation. Where there is smoke in the NBA, fire often follows.
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