During Wednesday morning’s episode of First Take on ESPN, Stephen A. Smith made a bold plea for Dallas Mavericks assistant coach God Shammgod to leave the franchise and join head coach Jamahl Mosley on the Orlando Magic’s coaching staff.
“I also saw some reports about Orlando being interested in God Shammgod Wells. He is an assistant coach on the Dallas Mavericks,” Smith said. “I covered this brother when he was in high school in New York City. We go back a long ways or whatever… I’m advising him on national television: leave. Get the hell up out of Dallas.”
Shammgod, known for his elite ball-handling skills and respected work with All-Star players, has been part of the Mavericks’ player development team since 2016. Originally from New York and a former standout at Providence, he’s built a strong reputation in NBA coaching circles.
Reports have linked Shammgod to the Magic, where he’d be reuniting with Jamahl Mosley — a former Mavericks assistant who took over as Orlando’s head coach in 2021. The two have a deep professional history, and a potential reunion could help Orlando continue shaping its young core.
Backing his argument, Smith referenced the Mavericks’ recent organizational shifts.
“With new ownership and some of the decisions that they’re making to curve course of whatever have you… they seem to be more about numbers rather than taking care of the people they need to take care of,” Smith said. “And I’m not saying it’s an awful thing because I understand business decisions need to be made every day, but with Kyrie Irving, I think he’s been lowballed… and God Shamgod get the hell up out of there.”
He added: “Go to Orlando with Mosley. You know who that brother is, get the hell up out of there and start anew. By the way, there’s no state income taxes in Florida too. You’re good, get the hell up out of there.”
Smith’s concerns included the handling of Kyrie Irving’s contract. While Irving declined his $42.9 million player option for the 2025–26 season, he’s expected to sign a three-year, $119 million extension with Dallas, which includes a player option for 2027–28.
Compounding the sense of change in Dallas, the team traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers at the 2025 trade deadline — a clear sign of a shift in direction.
Meanwhile, the Magic are building around a youthful core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs. They recently made headlines by acquiring Desmond Bane from Memphis in a major deal, and are looking to further bolster their coaching staff with experienced player development minds like Shammgod.
