The rain was coming down in sheets as I made my way through the packed corridors of the Kia Center last Tuesday night. I’d been covering Orlando basketball for nearly a decade, but I’d never felt energy quite like this—not during the playoff pushes of the late 2010s, not even during those electric regular-season wins against Miami. Something was different this year. You could feel it in the way the crowd buzzed during warm-ups, in the way the players moved with this quiet, unshakable confidence. I found my seat just as the starting lineups were being announced, the roar of the crowd swelling with each name. And that’s when it hit me: Orlando City Basketball isn’t just winning games this season. They’re dominating the court in a way I haven’t seen in years.
I remember talking to point guard Marcus Reed after their surprising 112-98 victory over Boston last month. He’d gone just 3-for-12 from beyond the arc that night—uncharacteristic for a player who’s been shooting 44% from three-point range this season. When I asked if the off-night bothered him, he just smiled. "Personally, hindi naman ako worried kasi every day pa rin naman akong nagsi-skills with my coaches and with my teammates, so tiwala pa rin sa sarili," he told me. "May mga times talaga and days na the ball’s just not gonna fall, so just take it in and continue working hard lang." That mindset, that refusal to get rattled by a few missed shots, speaks volumes about why this team is different. Last year, a cold shooting night might have snowballed into a 20-point loss. This season? They find other ways to win. They lock down on defense—they’re holding opponents to just 96.3 points per game, third-best in the league—and they trust the work they’ve put in.
It’s not just one guy carrying the load, either. That’s what makes this Orlando team so dangerous. You’ve got veterans like power forward Anthony Carter, who’s averaging 18.7 points and 9.2 rebounds at 34 years old, mentoring rookies like shooting guard Kyle Peterson—the kid from Duke who dropped 31 points in his third professional game. The chemistry is palpable, both on and off the court. I was at a practice session back in October, and what struck me wasn’t their athleticism (though, my god, these guys can jump) but their communication. They were constantly talking, adjusting, helping each other. Coach Ramirez has them believing in a system where everyone eats, and the stats prove it: they have six players averaging double figures in scoring, the most of any team in the Eastern Conference.
Let’s be real here—I didn’t see this coming. After they traded away veteran center David Miller in the offseason, I thought they were looking at a rebuilding year. Maybe fighting for a play-in spot if everything broke right. But here we are, 28 games into the season, and Orlando sits at 22-6, riding a seven-game winning streak that includes statement wins over Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and that absolute thriller against New York last week. I was on my feet for the final three minutes of that game, screaming along with everyone else when Carter blocked what looked like a sure layup to seal the win. This team plays with heart, with grit, and with a level of self-belief that’s honestly infectious.
What’s their secret? I think it goes back to what Reed said about trusting the work. This isn’t a team that gets too high after a win or too low after a loss. They approach every game with the same businesslike focus. I’ve watched them in shootarounds—they’re the last ones off the court, always putting up extra shots, working on defensive slides, studying film. They’ve created a culture where hard work is non-negotiable, and it shows in how they close out games. In clutch situations (defined as last five minutes with a score within five points), they’re shooting a ridiculous 58% from the field as a team. That’s not luck—that’s preparation meeting opportunity.
I’ll admit, I’ve become a bit of a fanboy this season. There’s something special about watching a team exceed all expectations, about seeing players buy into a system and elevate each other. The way they move the ball—crisp passes, unselfish play, always looking for the extra pass—it’s beautiful basketball. They’re first in the league in assists per game at 29.4, and when you watch them play, you understand why. Everyone is a threat, everyone is engaged, and everyone trusts each other. That trust didn’t happen overnight. It was built through those daily skill sessions Reed mentioned, through grinding in practice until the movements become second nature.
As I left the arena that rainy night, the scoreboard showing a 108-95 victory over Atlanta, I couldn’t help but feel excited about what’s ahead for this team. The playoffs are a different beast, of course, but the way Orlando is playing right now—with that combination of defensive intensity, offensive balance, and mental toughness—makes me believe they could make a deep run. They’ve created an identity, and it’s one that’s resonating throughout the league. If you haven’t been paying attention to Orlando City Basketball this season, you’re missing something special. This isn’t just a hot streak—this is a team that has figured something out, and the rest of the league should be taking notice.