Why Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs injuries give Anthony Black massive opportunity originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Three games into the Magic season, the floor already appears to be crumbling beneath the Magic's feet.
Orlando endured myriad injuries during the 2025-26 season. losing a host of notable talents to major injuries, including Franz Wagner. The 2026-27 season has unfortunately gotten off to a similar start; Sean Sweeney's bunch will be without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs for a few weeks after the pairing were felled by ankle and knee injuries, respectively.
Predictably, many in the Magic fanbase have been struck with a case of deja vu. This time around, though, Orlando looks equipped to keep afloat. A major reason why some are feeling optimistic? Anthony Black's progression.
With that, here's a look at how Banchero and Suggs' injuries could benefit Black, who figures to play a leading role in proceedings for the Magic over the coming few weeks.
Why Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs injuries could be a good thing for Anthony Black
No one wants to see a teammate get injured. With that said, Black could get a chance to showcase some of his gifts in Banchero and Suggs' absence.
The fourth-year has started a little less than 40 percent of the games he has appeared in since Orlando made him the No. 6 pick in the 2023 Draft. He showed flashes of brilliance last season, lifting his scoring averages from 8.6 points per gmae in 2024-25 to 15.0 points per game in 2025-26.
Black is a synapse, adept at shuttering the ball from one end of the floor to the other. He has tended to operate best in an off-ball role, although he has shown promise as a secondary or tertiary playmaker — a useful trait on a roster that features effective scorers like Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane.
With Banchero and Suggs slated to miss serious time, Black should get additional opportunities to showcase his skills. He's already an accomplished defender, drawing rave reviews for his active hands and willingness to serve as a primary point-of-attack defender. Those attributes should flourish as Suggs recuperates on the sidelines; Black will almost certainly be tasked with handling Orlando's top guard assignments.
He flaunted his emerging talents in Orlando's last game, a 111-102 win over the Knicks. The Arkansas product's shooting has waned at times throughout his professional career. But an 18-point, 6-of-11 (5-of-8 from three) showing against New York will inspire confidence that he can take a leap in the coming few weeks and months.
Anthony Black 18 PTS (6-11 FG, 5-7 3P), 5 AST, 3 REB, 2 STL, team-high +21 vs. Knicks https://t.co/6f9r0KGt3N
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) October 26, 2026
Black has yet to receive a contract extension, failing to reach an agreement with the side before the deadline for 2023 first-rounders expired before the start of the season. He'll be a restricted free agent after the season, meaning he can sign an offer sheet with any franchise. If he performs well during the season, he stands to get a major pay rise — one that might leave Sweeney's side unable to match his deal. In other words, Black could stand to receive quite the pretty penny come the offseason.
Orlando will need all hands on deck if it hopes to avoid tumbling down the Eastern Conference standings with Banchero and Suggs away. Black will have to shoulder a sizable burden to keep the Magic floating upstream without two of their best players. Based on his performance against the Knicks, the 22-year-old seems equal to the task.