Orlando Magic Daily
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5 Orlando Magic games that should have been on national TV

By Harrison Brown

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Franz Wagner #22 celebrates a basket with Jalen Suggs #4 of the Orlando Magic during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on March 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns beat the Magic 116-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 16: Franz Wagner #22 celebrates a basket with Jalen Suggs #4 of the Orlando Magic during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on March 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns beat the Magic 116-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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The 35th season of Orlando Magic basketball is coming. The team expressed its excitement this week during media day. This is the first time that this young roster has been fully healthy to start the season.

The Magic played at a playoff-caliber level for most of last season. But the unfortunate 5-20 start to the year put them in a hole few teams could climb out of. Injuries took their toll as key contributors missed significant time. It was out of the team’s control.

Orlando can now turn the page and look to hit the ground running. The team is deep and has the most continuity out of any NBA team.

Still, the team is flying under the radar and the NBA does not have much confidence in this young group as the Magic currently only have five nationally televised game this year — four on NBATV. The only game they will play on traditional national TV is their home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 12 on TNT.

The Orlando Magic are not among the featured teams on the NBA’s schedule. They will make just one national TV appearance this season. Perhaps the NBA is missing out.

Oklahoma City has a young roster similar to Orlando with blossoming talent filling the depth chart. This game will be a heavyweight matchup between the top two picks in the 2022 NBA Draft with Paolo Banchero going up against Chet Holmgren (at last).

The Magic have confidence they can make their presence felt in the Eastern Conference and quiet a lot of doubters. There will be plenty of key matchups throughout the year against contenders in which the Magic will look to prove they belong among the league elite.

Paolo Banchero has one of the highest ceilings of any NBA player and Magic fans have to anticipate a year two leap. If other young players like Franz Wagner, Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter or Cole Anthony all improve, this will be a tantalizing season.

The NBA may be forced to upgrade some of Orlando’s games so that NBA fans throughout the world can see what’s brewing in the City Beautiful.

There are not many believers in the Magic outside of Central Florida, but if you have been following this rebuild, you know that the team is in a great position.

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