The Orlando Magic fired head coach Jamahl Mosley on Monday after his team blew a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Playoffs. There were plenty of other reasons for his dismissal, however.
Paolo Banchero’s strong relationship with Mosley faltered this season, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Banchero was unhappy with how often Mosley opted to take the ball out of his hands during late-game clutch situations down the stretch. Banchero’s issues were emblematic of some frustration with Mosley’s late-game decisionmaking.
Rumors of a rift between Banchero and Mosley lingered for much of the season. There was even a report that suggested a star player would ask for a trade if Mosley were retained, and while the player wasn’t named, a lot of people assumed it was Banchero.
Mosley’s job was thought to be in jeopardy heading into the playoffs, but he looked like he might get a reprieve when the Magic unexpectedly went up 3-1 on the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Magic blew that lead, as well as a 24-point advantage in Game 6, and that likely sealed Mosley’s fate.
When a coach and player are at odds, the player is usually going to win the power struggle. That is true in this case, especially after Banchero averaged 22.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for Orlando this season.
