The 2026-27 NBA season is getting closer, and its nearing presence was indicated by the Orlando Magic posting photos of several players putting in work in the AdventHealth Training Center on Tuesday. 

Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, Nikola Vucevic and Wendell Carter Jr. were all included in the photos smiling through the sweat as they began group preparation for a season with substantial expectations. The team expectations are well known, but what standard should the players in these photos be held to individually?

Recently, I dove into that topic, and I began with the starters who were photographed. Now, it is time to review the first of the reserve players: Anthony Black

Beyond the core group of Banchero, Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane, an argument can be made that the most pressure is on Black.

Last season, the 22-year-old product of Arkansas took another leap in his production on the offensive end of the floor. As a rookie, Black averaged just 4.6 points across 69 appearances and 33 starts. 

In his sophomore season, Black appeared in more games (78) but made significantly fewer starts (10). However, his numbers improved to 9.4 points per game. In year three, with the guidance of former assistant coach God Shammgod, Black jumped up to 15 points per game and had several 20-plus point performances and two 30-plus point performances.

Black is on the second year of a club option, and unless a deal is reached before then, he will go into the 2027-28 season as a restricted free agent. There has been speculation about the type of extension Black could receive, and we might see him land it before the season begins.

However, another scenario exists where he has to continue proving himself.

Black improved as a scorer and a ball handler, but there are still areas of his game in which he struggles. He is not a particularly good 3-point shooter (33.3% in 2025-26) and his free throw percentage has dropped with more attempts (73.2% in 2025-26).

Black also could have played much better in the postseason. In seven games against the Detroit Pistons last season, he reached double figures only twice when he scored 19 points in Game 5 and 11 points in Game 7. In five games against the Boston Celtics in the previous season, he also struggled.

Black's continued ascension will make a difference in the kind of money he makes, but it will also make a difference in raising the Magic’s ceiling. To achieve greater heights, the bench has to be productive, and that requires Black starring in his role as the sixth man.