The Orlando Magic have fired head coach Jamahl Mosley following the club’s first-round playoff exit to the Detroit Pistons, the team announced Tuesday morning.
President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman issued a statement thanking the 47-year-old coach. “We’re grateful to Jamahl for all he’s done for the Orlando Magic,” Weltman said. “While this was a difficult decision, we feel it’s time for a new voice and fresh perspective.”
Mosley was hired in 2021 after 15 seasons as an assistant with the Nuggets, Cavaliers and Mavericks. He posted a 189-221 regular-season record and went 7-12 in the playoffs. Orlando reached the postseason in each of the past three years but never advanced beyond the opening round, falling in seven games to Cleveland in 2024, five games to Boston in 2025 and seven games to Detroit this year after holding a 3-1 series lead.
Expectations were elevated entering 2025-26 after an offseason trade for Desmond Bane, yet the Magic finished eighth in the Eastern Conference at 45-37. Injuries to key players contributed to the slide, and a play-in loss to Philadelphia forced the team to beat Charlotte just to secure the No. 8 seed.
Speculation about Mosley’s future grew when Orlando dropped its season finale to a short-handed Boston lineup. The chatter intensified after the Game 7 defeat in Detroit, where the Magic surrendered a 24-point advantage in the potential closeout contest.
Weltman, who received a contract extension during the season, will oversee the coaching search. Former Bulls coach Billy Donovan is viewed as a leading candidate, while Bucks associate head coach Darvin Ham and former Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau are also expected to receive consideration. Michigan head coach Dusty May has been mentioned but is expected to remain in Ann Arbor after winning the national championship.
Mosley may not be out of work for long; league sources say he has supporters in New Orleans, where the Pelicans have begun interviewing candidates. Head-coaching vacancies also exist in Chicago and Portland, while Milwaukee filled its opening last week by hiring Taylor Jenkins.
Source: HoopsRumors
