Tristan da Silva ignites the Magic offense with a confident, versatile bench performance, adding crucial depth and swagger to their winning formula.
The Orlando Magic erupted offensively in their season-opening win over the Miami Heat. While the trio of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Desmond Bane combined for an impressive 71 points. One unsung hero made a key impact, rookie forward Tristan da Silva.
Coming off the bench, da Silva contributed 16 points and a rebound in the high-scoring affair, showcasing the growth many anticipated after his impressive EuroBasket performance, where he played with a new sense of confidence and composure.
Coach Jamahl Mosley praised da Silva’s development, emphasizing how his maturity and adaptability will be crucial to the Magic’s depth and long-term success.
“I really do believe it's just his confidence,” Mosley said during morning shootaroud. “He has that swagger about him, and I think it goes back to what we've asked for of him, what his coaches have been talking to him about his performance. You know, this year overseas, I thought was great, and that just continues to build that confidence and swagger as he plays.”
“The great part about Tristan is that he knows how to play either style of game,” Mosley added. “Whether we slow it down. He knows when to make the right cuts, when to play off the ball, when to move it, when does, when to space the floor the right way. But part of this is that's how they played with the national team, and so he's used to the pace of play, when the shots are coming, how and how and where he's supposed to be on the floor.”
Now entering his second season after being thrust into a major role as a rookie due to injuries, da Silva is embracing a more defined role focused on doing whatever it takes to help the Magic win.
“Just doing a good job, being aggressive,” Da Silva said. “Taking on the role of being somebody that makes plays and is willing to make plays and play through mistakes as well. Taking shots when they're open, driving the ball when I can, and being rock solid defensively.”
“We’re trying to be one of the deepest teams in the league,” he added. “We have the talent, we have the players for it, so just got to make sure that we stay solid, and there's no drop off once we get into rotations and once we get into substitutions, and that's also a part of my responsibility coming in from the bench, just as much as everybody else.”
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