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Jamahl Mosley first stood out as someone with NBA coaching potential when he was hired by the Denver Nuggets as a development coach 16 years ago.
Also in Denver at the time: an assistant general manager named Jeff Weltman, now president of the Orlando Magic basketball operations. And Weltman never forgot the impact Mosley had on players back then.
“Jamahl made you take note,” Weltman said.
Fast forward to Monday, when Weltman officially introduced Mosley as the Magic coach. This marks the first time Mosley has served as the NBA’s head coach, a hire many in the league had expected to happen somewhere in years.
“We just have to work to improve ourselves,” Mosley said. “I think we just have to keep growing and building and keeping these guys at a level that they just want to keep reaching every day to get better and better. I think that’s the important part of this journey. . Looks like.”
Mosley inherits a rebuilding project in Orlando, which has been coached by Steve Clifford for the past three seasons. The Magic have finished 21-51 this season, trading Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier over the season to acquire young players and draft picks, and they hold two of the top eight picks in this year’s draft.
In short, there will be a lot of development in Orlando. That’s what made Weltman Mosley think of.
“Jamahl has a unique set of abilities,” Weltman said. “His passion, his experience, his ability to connect. He has incredible interpersonal skills with anyone and that stems from his compassion as a person.”
Mosley, 42, has spent the past 15 years as an assistant in Denver, Cleveland and Dallas. The last seven seasons were with the Mavericks. Mosley thanked so many people and former coaches and employers, as well as his wife and children – and his mother, who passed away 16 years ago.
“The dream for her to be able to see me fulfill her dreams is a blessing and I am grateful to her for that,” Mosley said.
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