Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black is beginning to feel more comfortable on the court, acknowledging steady progress in his second NBA season. Black, 20, shared insights on his development, expressing how he has noticed the game slowing down with each contest.
Black, who averaged 4.6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists during his rookie year, has doubled his impact this season with 8.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 26 minutes per game. Reflecting on his growth, he emphasized the importance of balancing his desire for perfection with the need to play through mistakes.
“Wanting to be perfect, it’s just a desire a lot of players have,” Black shared with Spencer Davies of Responsible Gambling. “I think it can be difficult, but it’s good to try to find a mix between striving for perfection and moving on…continuing to play through mistakes and ups and downs,” he said, highlighting a critical aspect of his evolving mindset.
For Black, staying composed as he gains experience has allowed him to make better reads on the floor. “It definitely feels like a little bit of progress but just trying to get in a rhythm, get a feel for it and just do what the team needs me to do,” he noted. Despite challenges, Black is focused on steady improvement, saying he’s taking each game “day by day.”
The young guard believes there’s more potential to unlock as he adapts to the league’s pace. “It’s slowing down game-by-game,” Black said. “I think there’s still another level to which it can kinda slow down for me.” With a commitment to staying grounded, he’s determined to let this process happen naturally, prioritizing team success over individual accolades.
