Paolo Banchero reached a milestone that only two other Orlando Magic players achieved.
Paolo Banchero Reaches Rarefied Air
Orlando Magic power forward and Duke alum Banchero continues to make history. The former Blue Devils star finished the 2024-25 season averaging 25.9 points. In the franchise’s 36-year history, only three players have averaged at least 25 points per game.
Banchero can now claim to be one of the best players to wear blue, black, and white. Joining Shaquille O’Neal and Tracy McGrady is quite an accomplishment, especially since the team flies so far under the radar that its toes scrape the ground. Despite being home to Disney, the Magic sit on a metaphorical outpost. Banchero aims to change that path. His alma mater tweeted congratulations to their former forward.
When Banchero arrived in Orlando, every ounce of pressure landed squarely on his shoulders. As the first overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, he would embrace the burden. In an era where players hope to stack talent by joining up to form super teams, Banchero chose the exact opposite.
As a franchise, the Magic is heading in the right direction. Banchero’s team looks ready after a 25-point victory over the Atlanta Hawks to advance to the playoffs. After the game, he discussed this with Sports Illustrated regarding the game:
“Yeah, I thought we did a good job of just… everyone, you know, under control, calm. There were some moments where, you know, one or two guys would get frustrated at the ref or, you know, maybe frustrated with each other quickly, and guys just were able to tell each other to relax, regroup, and shake it off quickly. That’s just what a good team does. That’s what a tight locker room does, and, you know, we were able to do that.”
Without key players like Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner, the Magic will start their playoff drive injured but optimistic that their star will lead them.
Magic City Immortals
Despite boasting players like Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, and Dwight Howard, the Magic still seek their first NBA title. However, with the odds firmly stacked against them, Banchero looks to build something permanent.
Each of the superstars above ended up leaving Orlando. In turn, the franchise repeated the same steps: lose, drop high, enjoy marginal success, lose superstar, rebuild. In a city primarily composed of residents from other locations, their NBA franchise experienced a similar turnover.
After the play-in victory, Banchero and the Magic will face a Celtics team that wants to repeat as world champions. This gives Banchero another chance to show off on the big stage.
In seven playoff games, the former Duke product scored 27 points, pulled 8.6 rebounds, and dished out four assists per contest. Now, the Celtics will want to pressure Banchero. At the same time, he does possess familiarity with their franchise player, Jayson Tatum, replying to Sports Illustrated:
“I’ve known Jayson (Tatum) since I went into college. You know, I see him every summer. [He’s] a guy that I’m very familiar with. One of the guys I go to for advice and stuff like that, but, you know, obviously, now we’re competing. I think the best way to show my respect is to give him my best effort and go at him as much as possible. I’m excited for the matchup, and, you know, I’m just excited to be in the playoffs in general.”
KEEP READING: Duke Basketball Shows off Jayson Tatum Going Head-to-Head Against Their No.1 pick in the NBA Playoffs
Banchero rapidly works his way up the charts in the pantheon of Magic greats. With strong play that often gets his teammates involved, he will take his team into the presumptive NBA championship favorite.
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