Jalen Suggs' 40-Foot Buzzer-Beater From 2021 Isn't About the Past, It's About Saving Orlando's Season Right Now
Last Friday morning, before the biggest shootaround of their season, the Orlando Magic sat down to watch a three-minute highlight reel. But this wasn't your typical film breakdown of the next opponent. Head coach Jamahl Mosley had the team's video coordinator put together something different: clips of his own players' NCAA tournament moments from years ago.
The team needed a spark. They'd just taken a gut-punch loss to Philadelphia in the play-in tournament, falling as the No. 7 seed to the No. 8 seed. Travel issues made it even worse. The season felt like it was slipping away.
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Each player who'd ever been to March Madness got two highlights in the video. Jonathan Isaac dunking at Florida State. Moritz Wagner hitting a three while getting fouled at Michigan. Desmond Bane drilling a deep three for TCU. Tristan da Silva at Colorado. Franz Wagner at Michigan. Wendell Carter Jr. at Duke.
But Mosley saved the best for last. Jalen Suggs' unforgettable 40-footer from near the half-court logo against UCLA in the 2021 Final Four for Gonzaga. CBS' Jim Nantz call echoed through the facility: "Suggs for the win!" Then the ball banked in.
Reminding Players What They've Already Done
That's the moment. Not some manufactured team-building exercise, but a reminder that these guys have already performed under the brightest lights in college basketball. They've made tournament runs. They've hit clutch shots when everything was on the line. They've been here before, mentally.
The message was clear without Mosley saying much: You've done this before. You know what pressure looks like. The season isn't over. Not yet.
The Magic needed that reset. And instead of X's and O's, they got Paolo Banchero pump-faking and blowing by a defender for a two-handed dunk. They got Suggs' bank shot. They got a reminder that winning in high-pressure moments is already in their DNA.
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