Paolo Banchero has been playing with some extra pep in his step. Banchero was on a tear five games into the 2024-2025 season, averaging career-highs across the board for the Orlando Magic. However, disaster struck when Banchero suffered a torn right oblique in the fourth quarter of the Magic’s 102-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls. 

Banchero would go on to miss the next 34 games, with Orlando going 19-15 in his absence. Of course, Banchero was happy his team had managed to remain afloat even with the injuries to him, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Mo Wagner. However, the former Duke Blue Devil was itching to be on the court helping his team rather than being just a mere spectator on the sidelines. 

It’s thus no surprise that Banchero has been playing with pent up energy since he got back. Three games into his return, Banchero has averaged 25.3 points (on pretty solid 49.0/47.1/76.9 shooting splits), 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and a block. The American-Italian forward did not miss a beat in his duel with Giannis Antetokounmpo, scoring 34 points in the Magic’s 109-106 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. 

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However, Banchero proved his mettle in crunchtime during Orlando’s 104-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. 

With Joel Embiid sitting out, Banchero had his way around the rest of the Sixers. There were no signs of rust and the 22-year old had no problems bodying older stars like Paul George. 

Banchero scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, with seven of those coming in the final minute and a half of the game. It’s safe to say he’s got a grown man’s game from both a physical and talent standpoint, and much of that has come because of the situation he was placed in. 

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However, Banchero and the Magic came crashing back to earth when the Bucks exacted revenge with a 122-93 beatdown. Banchero still got his points (a team-high 22), but he needed 20 shots to do so and coughed up the ball seven times in Orlando’s loss. 

When Banchero was selected by the Magic with the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, he was expected to lead a youtube squad that was clearly rebuilding since Dwight Howard left the franchise in 2012. From the jump, it was clear that Banchero was ready and his numbers backed that up. Banchero kept working and the results spoke for themselves in short time. Orlando’s rebuilding project hit a milestone when the Magic advanced to the 2024 NBA Playoffs, where they fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games. 

Winning a postseason series and doing so on a yearly basis is now the next step for Orlando and Banchero looks capable of doing so. He’s made strides with his individual development and the Magic have made a concerted effort in surrounding him with complementary pieces. When the goals of the player and the franchise are aligned, sky’s the limit. 

Perhaps the Orlando Magic must’ve learned their lesson this time with Paolo Banchero as they lost two generational big men to the Los Angeles Lakers and sank to the depths of the Eastern Conference. Paolo Banchero has so far repaid the Magic’s faith in him with his on-court exploits and it seems he has found a home in Orlando. 

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