Orlando Magic Players Find Focus and Peace on the Golf Course

Some Orlando Magic players are turning to golf, a sport demanding patience and revealing every mistake. This mirrors the team's 2026–27 season goal: no longer judged by potential, but by performance under pressure.

Last season, the Magic reached the playoffs, pushing Detroit to seven games. Despite a 3–1 series lead, they lost, highlighting the gap between a promising young team and a playoff contender. Following this, Orlando replaced coach Jamahl Mosley with Sean Sweeney, a defensive specialist tasked with improving an offense that has ranked 19th or worse in efficiency for three seasons.

The team's core remains strong: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, and Desmond Bane offer size, toughness, and scoring. The return of 35-year-old Nikola Vučević adds experience and depth. With a new coach, higher expectations, and a tough Eastern Conference, training camp carries new urgency for the Magic.

Yet, conversations at media day weren't solely about new strategies. Players also discussed green reading, golf swings, and local courses.

An interesting trend is emerging: players picking up golf clubs for a break from basketball, and sometimes, to find a different competitive edge.

For 22-year-old Anthony Black, golf demands the same concentration as professional basketball.

“It’s a relaxing sport, but it’s really challenging too. It’s a lot of technicalities, a lot of skill needed to succeed. I just find it fun to try to get better and improve.”

This pursuit of improvement suits Black, a young guard expected to grow into a larger role. Golf's precision appeals to him, but the game also offers distance from the daily pressure of an 82-game NBA season.

Black admits golf can be both head-clearing and frustrating.

“Fifty-fifty, because I’m super passionate about getting better in all aspects, winning, and performing well. As you know, in golf that’s not always the case. But I feel like it does clear my head of a lot of the serious things I’m actually going through.”

Off the court, Black follows the PGA Tour and roots for Min Woo Lee.

“He’s a pioneer for the young cats, got some nice spin on his ball. That’s what I like to watch.”

For teammate Jalen Suggs, golf offers a balance of calm and competition. The 25-year-old guard, known for his defensive intensity, finds golf a rare opportunity to slow down while still pursuing improvement.

“I love how peaceful the game is. It really gets me going competitively, especially being a bit newer to it. Every time I go out and hit a ball, I get a couple shots that keep me coming back. But I’m not perfect—my path isn’t consistent yet, and I’m not putting the ball exactly where I want. It’s a humble pleasure.”

Suggs follows Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, and amateur Jackson Koivun. For a player accustomed to the NBA's physical and emotional demands, golf provides a quiet setting, a clear target, and a different challenge.

The outdoor tranquility of golf also drew Nikola Vučević back to the game. The 35-year-old center rejoined Orlando on a one-year deal, bringing veteran leadership to a roster aiming for postseason success.

Vučević's return adds perspective as the team balances playoff aspirations with adapting to a new coaching staff. Between team duties, Vučević enjoys taking his children to the golf course.

“To me, my favorite thing is just being outdoors. Especially here when it gets a little cooler, you play in the afternoon after practice. It’s very calming, very quiet. Now that my kids are a little older, I take them in the golf cart and let them hit shots as we get closer to the green.”

While Vučević admits his driving needs work, he’s confident with his irons. His interest in golf began near Bay Hill, where he has watched the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Franz Wagner found golf appealing after moving to Central Florida. Growing up in Germany, golf was less accessible. Now, after five years with the Magic, the 25-year-old wing uses the game to get outside and disconnect.

“A lot of my friends, especially those from the United States, play golf, which motivated me to pick it up. We spend most of our time indoors, so it’s a great way to tune everything out, be fully in the moment, listen to the birds, and then go back to work.”

Wagner, still new to golf and without a favorite PGA Tour player, values the mental break. This balance may be crucial this season as Orlando adapts to Sweeney's system and pursues deeper playoff goals.

The Magic begin preseason play on October 7 against the Memphis Grizzlies and start their regular season on October 21 at Kia Center versus the Atlanta Hawks.