The young striker continues to earn Franz Wagner, Jamal Moseley praise

The Orlando Magic they may have fallen short in Friday night’s 111-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks , but they’re thriving in year two Tristan da Silva continues to impress and his teammates and head coach Jamahl Mosley.

After catching Mosley’s attention with a strong showing in the Magic’s season opener against the Miami Heat, da Silva followed up that performance with another effective outing. The 24-year-old finished Friday’s game with 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals while shooting 5-for-10 from the field, 2-for-4 from three-point range and 3-for-4 from the free throw line over 24 minutes. He also posted a team-high plus/minus of +8, further validating the trust Mosley placed in him early this season.

Da Silva was able to play against Atlanta just three days after his impressive debut performance in a 125-121 win over Miami, where he scored 16 points in 18 minutes off the bench, shooting 5-for-8 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. His back-to-back double-digit outings quickly made him one of Orlando’s most reliable contributors early in the season.

Franz Wagner and Jamahl Mosley praise the growing influence of Tristan da Silva

After the loss to Atlanta, star forward Franz Wagner, who led the Magic with 27 points, six rebounds and two assists on 10-of-17 shooting, spoke highly of his confidence and growth of a young teammate.

“I think he’s playing super confident, very aggressive, which I think is the type of player he is and he has to play that way,” Wagner said. “And super happy to see him take steps forward and hopefully he can do that tomorrow.”

Wagner’s praise carries extra weight, as he and da Silva share experience as teammates in the German national team. The couple helped guide Germany to the gold medal at FIBA ​​EuroBasket 2025 over the summer — experience that has visibly translated into da Silva’s improved poise and execution at the NBA level.

Head coach Jamal Mosley also reflected on da Silva’s performance after the game, noting the value of his presence in the rotation and the momentum he brought during key stretches.

“It was thought about,” said Mosley, when asked about Da Silva’s extended second-half streak. “I think that group had a little rhythm and they were working on some things together. So, I think (you) go back and look at the tape and see exactly what we could have done differently, where we could have improved beyond free throws and turnovers, but what we could have done differently tactically.”

Da Silva’s versatility and hot shooting bolster the Magic’s depth early in the season

Da Silva’s versatility on both sides of the floor stood out at the beginning of the season. His combination of size, shooting touch and defensive instincts have allowed Mosley to deploy him in multiple formations – from small-ball units to more traditional forward pairings. His ability to space the floor was especially valuable next to Wagner and Paolo Bunchero, giving the Magic an added threat at the rim.

Through two games, da Silva is averaging 15.5 points while shooting over 55% from the field and 55.6% from three, offering the kind of production that bolsters Orlando’s depth. His steady progression from promising rookie to confident, assertive contributor earns him the respect of both his coach and teammates.

The Magic will aim to rebound and close out their three-game homestand on a high note when they face the Chicago Bulls (1-0) on Saturday at 7pm ET.