Josh Robbins

Orlando, Washington, D.C., United States

Senior Writer at The Athletic

Covering the Washington Wizards for The Athletic and co-host of The Athletic's Bullet Points podcast.

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Articles

Do the Jayson Tatum injury and draft lottery put Eastern Conference at a new low?

14 hours ago | nytimes.com | Eric Koreen |Josh Robbins

Don't throw away those "Leastern Conference" jokes. They are likely to have utility for a while. The events of the past few days have only emphasized how wobbly things are in the NBA's Eastern Conference, which has been the demonstrably weaker half of the league for the better part of a quarter-century. The 64-win, top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated in Game 5 by the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.
Orlando Magic's Jeff Weltman on adopting 'a win-now approach'

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Josh Robbins

ORLANDO, Fla. - After two consecutive first-round playoff exits, Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and coach Jamahl Mosley wanted to convey a singular message Thursday to the public and perhaps also to the players themselves. "I think we're ready to kind of walk into the next phase of our team, the next stage of our team," Weltman said.
The Magic will need to get creative this offseason to build on strong foundation

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Josh Robbins

BOSTON - It seems perfectly appropriate that the final game of the Orlando Magic's 2024-25 season - a 120-89 loss Tuesday night to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series- revealed the team's positives and negatives in one fell swoop. For one half Tuesday night, as well as for the four full games that preceded it, the Magic battled the reigning NBA champions toe-to-toe and at times outplayed the more experienced Celtics.
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown have help. Can the Magic get some for their young stars?

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Josh Robbins

ORLANDO, Fla. - At first glance, the current versions of the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic appear to have little in common. The more experienced Celtics are the reigning NBA champs, and Sunday night, they took another step forward in their title defense, winning Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against the Magic, 107-98. But take a closer look at the teams and you'll see a crucial similarity.
'In Franz we trust'

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Josh Robbins

ORLANDO, Fla. - The chance for redemption will come another day, maybe as soon as some point in the week ahead. That's what Orlando Magic players and coaches hope for 23-year-old Franz Wagner and their team. They're fighting to give themselves a chance to play another meaningful playoff road game and, this time, to win it. Wagner played a terrific game Friday, leading the Magic to a pulse-pounding, must-win Game 3 victory over the Boston Celtics, 95-93.
Who should win Defensive Player of the Year? We asked NBA coaches

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Josh Robbins

The deep vein thrombosis that ended Victor Wembanyama's second season at the All-Star break did more than scuttle the San Antonio Spurs' hopes of reaching the postseason and temporarily deprive the NBA of its most heralded young star. It also upended the league's 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year race. Wembanyama, who had finished as the runner-up one year ago as a rookie, seemed like the clear frontrunner this time around.
What I liked and didn't like from Orlando

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Josh Robbins

BOSTON - Before the Orlando Magic left Florida to begin their first-round playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics, they felt they had learned valuable lessons last spring about the mental side of an NBA postseason series.
Wizards have work to do to change NBA's perceptions of their franchise

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Josh Robbins

WASHINGTON - Outsiders cannot know for certain about another workplace's culture until they immerse themselves in it and experience things firsthand. Perceptions do not necessarily correspond with reality. Respected NBA veterans Malcolm Brogdon, Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart did not join the Washington Wizards by choice. The Wizards brought them aboard via separate trades within the last nine months.
NBA players sound off on Lakers-Mavericks Luka Dončić trade: 'Blasphemy'

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Sam Amick |Josh Robbins

What did NBA players really think of the controversial Luka Dončić trade? One thing is certain: They were just as surprised as you were. As part of The Athletic's annual NBA player poll, we quizzed more than 150 players across all 30 teams on what they made of the Dallas Mavericks' decision to deal the perennial MVP contender two months ago. Sixteen players used the word "shocked" in their responses, and 18 deemed it "crazy," among other more colorful language.
NBA players sound off on league's gambling partnerships and their impact

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Sam Amick |Josh Robbins

It has been almost seven years since the Supreme Court opened the door to legalized sports betting across the country, and the NBA now finds itself deep into this gambling world that comes with massive (financial) perks and problems. The league partnered with FanDuel and DraftKings as its betting partners in 2021, and several teams have done deals with casinos as well.