As college football and the NFL dominate TV screens around the nation, it might be easy to forget that the NBA season is also fast approaching.

For the Orlando Magic, it will be a chance to demonstrate that their potential is not locked away behind hypotheticals or what-if scenarios.

Recently, I have talked at great length on the Full Court Magic Podcast about what this team needs from its best players. The goals are clear for Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs, and while I plan on circling back to do individual player profiles for each of them before the start of the season, it is time to place a focus on some of the role players.

One such player is Jamal Cain. Let’s identify what he has done and what he can bring to the table for this team.

A lot of people may have come to know Cain through his legendary poster dunk over Jalen Duren in a win against the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series last season, but his career path has been the definition of slow and steady. 

The 27-year-old began his NBA journey in a Miami Heat uniform, and he played for the organization from 2022-2024. During the 2024-25 season, Cain suited up for the New Orleans Pelicans, and he made his way to Orlando for the 2025-26 campaign.

Throughout his journey, Cain has been stuck on two-way contracts. However, that all changed when his deal was converted to a standard contract in March after a stretch of strong performances. 

At 27 years old, Cain has gone from undrafted to being a legitimate reserve player. So, how can he help the Magic next season?

Last season, Cain appeared in 40 games for Orlando and made one start in the regular season. In that span, he averaged 5.4 points in about 12 minutes per contest.

At 6-foot-7 and 191 pounds, Cain plays bigger than his frame and statistics suggest. He is not afraid to make hustle plays in the paint and crash the boards against much bigger players in order to secure opportunities for his team. 

Additionally, he is a reliable enough 3-point shooter to help space the floor. Last season, he shot 38.4% from the perimeter. 

If Cain gets to the free throw line, his 84.8 free-throw percentage suggests that he can also knock down his shots at the charity stripe.

However, beyond Cain's massive dunk over Duren in Game 4, Cain struggled in the postseason. When Franz Wagner went down with a calf strain in that same game, Cain was asked to do a lot more, and he made three starts in the series.

Over a seven-game span, Cain averaged 4.6 points and shot just 41.4% from the field and 25% from three. If the Magic need to rely on Cain again in high-leverage moments, he will need to produce more than just one highlight.

Overall, Cain benefits Orlando’s bench by providing a high-energy, athletic play style. If he can develop more parts of his game in the coming season, he can help the team even more.