Magic fire coach Jamahl Mosley after NBA playoffs collapse vs Pistons

The Orlando Magic fired coach Jamahl Mosley one day after the team was eliminated from the 2026 NBA playoffs in a Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons.

The eighth-seeded Magic had a 3-1 series lead over the Pistons, who are the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed, before losing three games in a row.

"We're grateful to Jamahl for all he's done for the Orlando Magic," said team president Jeff Weltman 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."

Mosley had been the Magic's coach for five seasons and led the franchise to the playoffs the past three years. But Orlando made a big move during the 2025 offseason acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a package built around four first-round draft picks. Expectations were that the Magic would be contenders in the East this year with former No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner still in the fold.

The Magic, however, endured a stilted campaign in which they needed to qualify for the playoffs through the play-in tournament. Their offensive issues of previous seasons continued to be a problem into the postseason. Their historic Game 6 collapse against the Pistons last Friday included 23-straight missed shots and just 19 second-half points.

Mosley had a 189-221 overall record with Orlando and never won a playoff series.

Orlando Magic coaching candidates

The Magic job remains an intriguing one despite Orlando's collapse against the Eastern Conference's top seed. The Magic still have 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and former lottery picks Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter, Jr. under contract, and could potentially make the jump many anticipated this season a year later with the right hire.

Former Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, Tom Thibodeau and an NBA champion from the past five years lead this USA TODAY Sports breakdown of six potential candidates to replace Mosley as the Orlando Magic's next coach.

Jamahl Mosley reaction: Magic 'more attractive job than Milwaukee'

"They didn't fire you because you lost a 3-1 lead. They fired you because they wanted to. They fired you because this was all in the plan and there was probably going to be very little to nothing Jamahl Mosley could have done about that," ESPN NBA reporter Vince Goodwill said on "The Rich Eisen Show" after Mosley was fired. "... I do think Orlando, with their young players, a more attractive job than Milwaukee because you don't know Giannis' future, you don't know about his health, you don't know about the direction of the organization. "