Osceola Magic guard Javonte Smart and forward Alex Morales will miss the team's road games against Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 29 and Dec. 1.
It's for a good reason — they were selected to participate in the 2025 FIBA Men’s World Cup qualifiers for USA Basketball (Smart) and the Puerto Rican National Team (Morales).
In his second season with the Magic, Smart is averaging 17.8 points in 25 minutes per game off the bench. He's been a fourth-quarter sparkplug from the three-point line. With 10 FIBA Senior Team appearances, Smart is the most experienced guard on the USA Basketball roster and most recently helped the team win a bronze medal in the 2025 AmeriCup in August.
Morales, who's been with Osceola since the team came here three seasons ago, is averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds in 31 minutes of the team's four games thus far in the young 2025-26 season.
USA Basketball will hold training camp from Nov. 21-26 in Miami before a home-and-home series against Nicaragua on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1. Puerto Rico plays a home-and-home series against Jamaica on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1.