ORLANDO, Fla. — There was very little confusion about Jamahl Mosley's blueprint from the moment he was introduced as the Orlando Magic's coach last summer. 

Growth. Culture. Winning habits. Those were the pillars the first-time head coach was going to implement. Halfway through his inaugural season, he hasn't deviated one bit. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Magic's Jamahl Mosley says his first year as coach is going as expected

  • The players and team are successfully getting better every day, he said

  • The Magic have the NBA's worst record at about the season's midpoint

  • Injuries to key players and COVID-19 have slowed Orlando's rebuild

  • Mosley said he expects early-season struggles to aid growth in the second half 

“We are exactly where we thought we would be from the process," Mosley said. "Obviously, the results and the outcome of games is not what you would like it to be, but if you look on a day-to-day basis of us getting better every day to improve each other, I think we’re falling in line there.”

About halfway through the season, the Magic have the worst record in the NBA, 7-34 before Wednesday night's games. Struggles were expected after last year's moves at the trade deadline. Still it's been a year and an opportunity Mosley has cherished. 

“It’s been a whirlwind. It’s been beautiful," Mosley said. "It’s been a learning curve leaving Dallas, then coming to Orlando and getting the job, working with this young group of guys. It feels like a full life lived in one year.”

In that year, the coach and his team have been forced to grow up fast. One of the youngest rosters in the NBA, Orlando has seen the emergence of Cole Anthony and forward Franz Wagner. Anthony, a second-year guard, leads the Magic with just less than 20 points per game. 

Wagner, the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, was named December's Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. 

Key injuries to forward Jonathan Isaac and guards Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs as well as absences because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols have slowed the rebuild. Mosley said he expects the lumps taken early on will help this team grow for the second-half stretch. 

“Getting over that hump and getting over that curve," Mosley said. "The games that we’ve been close in, I think 2022 represents getting over that hump and watching an exciting team that’s still growing together. For me, continue to grow and get better and lead with positivity, enthusiasm and energy with my staff and the organization. It’s a good time for Magic fans to be excited.”