ORLANDO – Over the course of his two-year tenure as head coach of the Orlando Magic, Jamahl Mosley has immensely impacted the growth of the franchise’s young talent and has cultivated a family-oriented environment in the team’s locker room.
His uncanny ability to connect on a one-on-one basis with players and staff has without a doubt made a tremendous impact on the organization.
And the results have not gone unnoticed.
On Monday, Mosley was named the head coach of the 2023 USA Men’s Select Team, which will train with the USA Basketball Men’s National Team as it prepares for the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup from Aug. 25 to Sep. 10 in Manila. Members of the USA Select Team will train daily with the USA Men’s National Team from Aug. 3-6 in Las Vegas.
“It’s an honor to be selected to lead the USA Men’s Select Team and I am truly grateful,” said Mosley, who served as an assistant coach on the 2021 USA Select Team and as an assistant coach at the 2018 USA Basketball Men’s National Team mini-camp. “After serving as an assistant with the Select squad in 2021, I’m fully aware of the importance that our team will have in USA Basketball’s success this summer at the World Cup.”
The USA Select Team features a roster of 11 current NBA players, along with three veteran players with NBA, NBA G League, international and USA Basketball experience, including Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons), Langston Galloway (Free Agent), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets), Quentin Grimes (New York Knicks), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), John Jenkins (G League Ignite), Herb Jones (New Orleans Pelicans), Eric Mika (G League Ignite), Trey Murphy (New Orleans Pelicans), Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings), Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics), Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves), and Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder).
Undoubtably, USA Basketball has been impressed with the job Mosley has done in Orlando. Under his guidance, the Magic made a 12-win jump during their 2022-23 campaign from the previous season - the largest improvement in the Eastern Conference and third-best in the NBA.
On an individual basis, players up and down Orlando’s roster showed signs of growth. Headlining that list were Paolo Banchero, who was named the 2022 Rookie of the Year, and Franz Wagner, who put together a sensational sophomore season.
“There are a lot of ups and downs, peaks and valleys (during a rookie year),” said Banchero, who was named to the 2023 USA Men’s National Team earlier this month. “I give credit to coach Mosley and my teammates for sticking with me and trusting me when I was going through those tough times and tough stretches. Just pumping nothing but encouragement and just supportive energy.”
Mosley knows all about working with young talent. Orlando’s roster currently features eight players who were former lottery picks and 12 players who are 25 years old or younger.
One of the newest members of that group is Anthony Black, who was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Leading up to summer league and during the Magic’s practice sessions in Las Vegas, he witnessed firsthand Mosley’s passion for coaching and working hands on with his players.
“I appreciate it a lot,” said Black of his one-on-one time with Mosley and members of Orlando’s coaching staff. “There (were) a lot of dudes (out in Las Vegas), so for them to be working with me is good. It feels like they’re invested in me. I’m really open to learning, so I’m glad (all the coaches) are helping me out with stuff.”