This was the exact shot all the draft analysts believed Anthony Black might need years to work on.
The 6-foot-7 guard undoubtedly fit the Orlando Magic’s preferred size and versatility ambitions. But like all good Magic players, he came with his share of shooting questions. The scout on Black was to leave him open, even as he showed surprising gains.
Even the most optimistic fans for Black probably could not imagine the situation Black found himself in Monday. At least not in his second season.
But there Black was, posted up in the corner with the game tied, receiving the ball from Jalen Suggs and hitting the go-ahead shot with 33 seconds left, ensuring the Magic would walk away with a 119-115 win over the Indiana Pacers.
While the world was buzzing about Paolo Banchero’s 50-point effort, the Magic were buzzing about Black’s big shot and what it meant for their young guard.
“I’m so proud of that young man,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We said it before this summer, the work that he has put in and the time he has waited and understanding how good he can be. He has never wavered. He continues to put the work in.”
Black had an up-and-down rookie season. The kind of season that is not typical for a No. 6 overall pick.
The Magic threw him into the starting lineup early in the season thanks to an injury to Markelle Fultz. But he did not play like a point guard. The Magic relied on him for his defense but very little else. He posted a lowly 12.7 percent usage rate.
Black was out of the rotation by the end of the season. His last meaningful game in his rookie season came in a March game against the New York Knicks and Pacers. In those games, Black looked a bit out of his depth. He looked like a wide-eyed rookie. He did not play more than 10 minutes in consecutive games for the rest of the season.
Black took that inconsistency the way the Magic hoped. He went to work this offseason.
And throughout training camp, everyone on the team was buzzing about what Black was doing. All he had left to do was prove himself when the season began.
While Black said he was thankful for the experience of playing off the ball, he was eager to get back to playing point guard. Still, it was not a sure thing that this would work. It was a major risk considering how little he was used in his first season.
Black has rewarded that faith and effort.
Through four games, Black is averaging 9.5 points per game and 3.8 assists per game. He is shooting 4 for 7 from three, adding that to his game.
But more than that, he is providing consistent effort and energy on both ends of the floor. He is not just a defensive specialist anymore. And after struggling through Monday’s game, he stayed ready when his moment came.
“I think it just shows us taking another step forward,” Black said. “We’re a young team. We’ve got a lot of young guys. It could be easy to crumble in those types of situations. Today was definitely a big step.”
That was his approach throughout the summer and that is what paid off in that critical moment. And now the Magic feel they have a solid backup point guard option and another young player eager to step onto the big stage.
Black got that stage and platform to end Monday’s game. And the young player delivered and exceeded expectations.
