The Orlando Magic tipped off their preseason on Saturday with a 126-118 win over the Miami Heat. While preseason contests are often viewed as tune-ups, they still provided the Magic with an early glimpse of how their new pieces might fit alongside established core players.
Among the players who stood out in the opener was rookie guard Jase Richardson, the 25th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
As Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports, Richardson admitted to some early jitters in his first official NBA action. He started the night cold, but once he settled into the game’s rhythm, he showed flashes of why the Magic invested in him.
By the end of the contest, he had put together a team-high 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. He also added four rebounds, two assists, and a steal, rounding out a strong all-around debut.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley was quick to highlight both Richardson’s skill set and his mindset.
“There’s just a level of confidence that he possesses reading the game, recognizing what guys are doing and how they’re playing him,” Mosley said.
“His speed is such a big advantage for him, but then the other side of it is we talked all the time about how inquisitive he is and how he wants to know what to do in any situation.”
With Jalen Suggs sidelined by injury, the Magic’s backup point guard minutes are expected to fall primarily to veteran Tyus Jones.
Still, Richardson’s ability to play both on and off the ball could earn him meaningful opportunities sooner than anticipated, especially if he continues to show the same aggression and shooting efficiency that powered his preseason debut.
Magic Notes: Richardson, Banchero, Bane, Wagner https://t.co/vhd1ursTUH pic.twitter.com/fmNa8ZB9i5
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 6, 2025
