Just five games into the season, the Orlando Magic find themselves in familiar territory.
They are currently 1-4 with an unexpected win against the New York Knicks and a couple of duds against likely playoff teams.
Despite the lack of success in the win column, there have been small victories along the way, especially for some of the young players.
The Magic currently have one of the youngest rosters in the league, boasting an average age of 24.8. This is right on par with other rebuilding franchises like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons.
The Orlando Magic are a young rebuilding team trying to find their way this season. That leaves plenty of chances for a breakthrough player to stick.
This more times than not leads to inconsistency across the board. But occasional flashes of brilliance appear on any given night. And these are the moments fans will hold onto tightly.
And that is right where the Magic find themselves at right now. With the Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac injuries, even more young players have been asked to step right into large nightly roles.
Take rookie Franz Wagner for example. He has started all five games and is currently leading the team in minutes played with 32.8 per game.
In just his second year Cole Anthony is playing more than 32 minutes per game too. Throw rookie Jalen Suggs into the mix with 30 minutes per game and you have quite possibly the youngest perimeter combination in the whole league.
With all this said, youth is not always a negative trait. This has given us a glimpse of many of the best prospects the Magic have on their roster and it has been quite encouraging.
One could argue there are even more examples. But right now the following three players have major breakout potential for the Orlando Magic.
Orlando Magic breakout players
Mo Bamba
Could it finally be happening? Is Mo Bamba turning into the player we have always hoped he would be?
It sure looks like it. Through the first five games of this season, Mo Bamba is averaging 13.6 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game and more than 1 steal and 1 block per game.
He is shooting 53-percent from the field and 40-percent from three with almost two made three-pointers per game.
These impressive numbers are a direct correlation to his increased opportunity. Bamba has started every game this season and is third on the team in minutes played with 31.0 per game, more than double his average in any of his first three seasons. He had not even played 27 or more minutes in a single game more than four times entering this season.
This has led to impactful play all over the floor. Bamba has truly been a force on both ends, blocking shots and knocking down jumpers. Possibly his best performance of his NBA career came on opening night, erasing 4 shots and scoring 18 points.
So what does all of this mean?
This is not the time to overreact. But these are signs of massive improvement. Bamba has never strung together this many solid games consistently. At only 23 years old, it might just finally be starting to click.
With a little more patience, and even more consistent opportunity, the Orlando Magic could have the breakout big man they always expected.
Orlando Magic breakout players
Cole Anthony
Cole Anthony is the most obvious breakout candidate the Orlando Magic have on their roster, going all the way back to last season.
Now in his sophomore season, the signs are all still there.
The ball has been in Anthony’s hands A LOT this season and his numbers reflect that.
He is leading the Magic in field goal attempts with 15 per game resulting in a team-high 17 points per game.
With better shooting percentages his scoring numbers would jump way up. Right now Anthony is only shooting 41-percent from the field and 31-percent from three.
As we said last season, the Magic hope that these numbers are not reflective of Anthony’s true ability and that they begin to climb as he gets more comfortable.
The true encouragement so far this year is in the other facets of Anthony’s game.
He is rebounding at an incredible rate for a small guard (7.3 per game) and is dishing out almost 6.0 assists per game.
With there still being uncertainty in Anthony’s best position, his playmaking could help make the decisions easier for the Magic coaching staff.
It is obvious Anthony plays his best basketball with the ball in his hands. Paired with Jalen Suggs or Markelle Fultz, the Magic have potentially a dynamic backcourt in the making.
Anthony has yet to show he can be the leading scorer on a winning team, or that he can be efficient for long stretches of time, but all of the tools are there for a breakout as this year moves on.
Orlando Magic breakout players
Jalen Suggs
The Orlando Magic hope Jalen Suggs can become a star. But his play has been sporadic in the first five games of his rookie season.
So far Suggs has shown a great ability to get his shot off and get to the rim, but things are falling right now.
In 30 minutes per game, Suggs is averaging 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He is shooting a brisk 28-percent from the field.
As many have noted, Suggs seems to be sped up on most plays, not fully making decisions before he makes a move. This is the case with most young, athletic guards. As he gains more NBA experience, the game will slow down.
All of this goes to say, this is probably the worst we will ever see Suggs perform in a Magic uniform. The breakout is coming, it is just a matter of when.
Suggs was talked about as one of the top draft prospects for a reason. He can create for others, defend at a high level, run the break, and get to the hole…all qualities of a star guard.
A breakout is when a players potential matches his performance resulting in production.
Suggs is right now at the “potential” stage, but the growth is imminent.