Jamahl Mosley was fired as head coach of the Orlando Magic after they were eliminated from the playoffs by the Detroit Pistons. Despite rebuilding the team into a playoff contender, Mosley never advanced past the first round in five seasons.
Mentioned in this story
Milwaukee native Jamahl Mosley, who helped rebuild the Orlando Magic into a playoff contender but never got past the first round, was fired by the NBA franchise Monday, May 4, one day after the Detroit Pistons eliminated the Magic from the playoffs.
Orlando had a tantalizing opportunity to become the seventh No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed when it took a 3-1 series lead over Detroit in the opening round, then held a 60-38 lead over Detroit at halftime of Game 6 at home. But Orlando endured a jaw-dropping collapse, scoring just 19 points in the second half and falling, 93-79, before the 116-94 setback in Detroit on May 3.
Mosley's teams went 189-221 with two winning seasons in five years, but they also took a huge leap forward. After a 22-60 record with Mosley in 2021-22, Orlando won 34 games the next year and then went to three straight postseasons, with losses in the first round each time (including two seven-game setbacks).
Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley is shown during the first half of their game against the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday, March 8, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Mosley took second in the NBA Coach of the Year voting in 2024, finishing behind Oklahoma City's Mark Daigneault.
Mosley had been an assistant coach in the NBA since 2006-07, spending time with Denver, Cleveland and .
Jamahl Mosley was fired after the Magic's playoff elimination by the Detroit Pistons, marking a disappointing end to a season where they had a 3-1 series lead.
Jamahl Mosley had a record of 189-221 over five seasons, including two winning seasons and three consecutive playoff appearances.
Under Jamahl Mosley, the Orlando Magic made the playoffs three times but lost in the first round each time, including two seven-game series.
Check out the latest fantasy baseball risers and fallers as of May 4!
Joe Rogan will be part of the UFC 328 commentary team this Saturday!
Meet Haynes King: Panthers' Top Undrafted QB to Watch in 2026

Top 2028 QB Kingston Preyear narrows choices to six schools, including Alabama.
Is Jadarian Price a Contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year?
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
"We're grateful to Jamahl (Mosley) for all he's done for the Orlando Magic," president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said in a statement. "We appreciate his leadership and the positive contributions he made as head coach. While this was a difficult decision, we feel it's time for a new voice and fresh perspective. We wish Jamahl and his family nothing but the best."
The Magic had only made the postseason twice (2019 and 2020) after the 2012 season before Mosley's run over the past three years. The 2020 Magic lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the postseason under previous coach Steve Clifford, who parted ways with Orlando after three seasons.
This year's Magic lost a chance at the No. 7 seed with a play-in loss to Philadelphia, but then crushed the upstart Charlotte Hornets for the eighth seed, 121-90.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee native Jamahl Mosley fired by Orlando Magic