Paolo Banchero Articles - Page 2

On Monday evening, the Orlando Magic dropped to 1-3 on the 2025 NBA season with a disappointing road loss against the Philadelphia 76ers. The loss was another puzzlingly bad defensive performance from a Magic team that was supposed to be among the league’s elites in that department this year. Not helping the cause has been […]

The Orlando Magic opened their 2025-26 season on a high note Tuesday night, defeating the Miami Heat 125-121 at the Kia Center in a fast-paced, physical matchup that marked the return of guard Jalen Suggs. Playing in his first game since January, Suggs quickly reminded teammates and fans alike why he’s considered the team’s emotional […]

The Orlando Magic opened their 2025-26 season with a statement win on Tuesday night, defeating the Miami Heat 125-121 at the Kia Center. The debut of veteran guard Desmond Bane stole much of the spotlight, earning immediate praise from star forward Paolo Banchero and head coach Jamahl Mosley following his first game in a Magic […]

There is always a race against the clock for NBA teams and players entering the final year of their rookie contracts before the start of a new season. This year was no exception, as several notable first-round picks from the 2022 NBA Draft held extensive negotiations with their respective organizations to try and reach an […]

The Orlando Magic were crowned NBA champions — at least virtually — in a new season simulation conducted by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. The projection, part of ESPN’s annual computer-generated forecast, predicts that the Magic will not only reach the 2026 NBA Finals but win their first title in franchise history. […]

The Orlando Magic and new guard Desmond Bane are drawing praise across the league as attention shifts toward the 2025-26 season. In the NBA’s annual general manager survey released this week, the Magic earned top recognition in multiple categories, while Bane was voted one of the most undervalued offseason additions. With the regular season set […]

Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero is confident they have the tools to be a strong contender in the Eastern Conference. They have flirted with success in recent years, and it’s only a matter of time until they get over the hump. For Banchero, guard Desmond Bane could be the missing piece. The Magic acquired Bane […]

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum won’t be playing in any NBA games for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t keeping busy off the court. Along with tackling his daily injury rehab, Tatum will serve as the inaugural Chief Basketball Officer of Duke University. The blue-blood program announced that the six-time NBA All-Star […]

The Orlando Magic enter the 2025-26 NBA season under a completely new spotlight. After back-to-back playoff appearances and consecutive first-round exits, the team’s leadership has made it clear: the developmental phase is over. Winning is the only standard. Team president Jeff Weltman doubled down on that message during Media Day, while Paolo Banchero himself welcomed […]

As the Orlando Magic prepare to open the 2025-26 NBA season, team president Jeff Weltman made clear that the franchise’s young core is now being evaluated by one standard: winning. Speaking at media day Monday, Weltman said Paolo Banchero and the rest of the roster understand the expectations placed on them as they enter another […]

With training camp opening Tuesday, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero expressed confidence that his team is prepared to meet heightened expectations for the 2025-26 NBA season. In an interview with The Athletic, Banchero welcomed the external pressure placed on both himself and the organization following back-to-back playoff appearances and an offseason that reshaped the roster. […]

As the Orlando Magic prepare to open training camp Tuesday ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, star forward Paolo Banchero admitted he was stunned by the team’s biggest offseason move. The 22-year-old said he “couldn’t believe” Orlando had pulled off the trade to acquire guard Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies. In an interview with […]

As the Orlando Magic prepare to open the 2025-26 NBA season, newly acquired guard Desmond Bane believes teammate Paolo Banchero is on the verge of taking another leap forward. Bane, who joined Orlando in a blockbuster trade from the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this summer, shared his expectations for Banchero on The Kevin O’Connor Show. With […]

The excitement is building in Central Florida. Now there might be better days ahead after the Orlando Magic fell to the Boston Celtics in last season’s playoffs. With the 2025-26 NBA training camp starting, the anticipation of what the Magic’s starting lineup will look like is growing. One Magic player has been great but is […]

As Desmond Bane prepares for his sixth NBA season and first with the Orlando Magic, the 27-year-old guard is embracing a new challenge while setting high expectations. After arriving in a blockbuster Father’s Day trade from the Memphis Grizzlies, Bane has expressed confidence in Orlando’s potential heading into the 2025-26 campaign. In an interview with […]

As the Orlando Magic prepare for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season, two-time NBA champion and player agent Mike Miller believes star forward Paolo Banchero has only begun to tap into his potential. In the first episode of The 5tandard, Miller described Banchero as being at the “tip of the iceberg” as he enters his fourth […]

The Duke basketball program is currently preparing for the upcoming 2025 college basketball season, which is slated to begin in around two months. Duke is entering a bit of a transitional year after several key players, including multiple first round picks, departed for the NBA Draft this past offseason. One of those first round picks […]

The Orlando Magic enter the 2025-26 NBA season with heightened expectations following an offseason that brought in much-needed reinforcements. After back-to-back first-round playoff exits, the franchise believes it has taken the steps necessary to advance deeper into the postseason, with star forward Paolo Banchero voicing his confidence in the team’s direction. Banchero, the 2022 No. […]

With the 2025-26 NBA season just 50 days away, the Orlando Magic are preparing to build on their growing momentum in the Eastern Conference. Assistant coach God Shammgod, who joined the team earlier this summer, believes the franchise’s young core, led by star forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, is prepared to take another significant […]

As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, ESPN’s panel of NBA insiders has projected the Orlando Magic as one of the top contenders in a wide-open Eastern Conference. According to the network’s predictions, the Magic are expected to finish as the third seed with a 50-32 record, behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers (59-23) and the New […]

With the 2025-26 NBA season two months away, ESPN’s panel of insiders has identified Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley as the leading candidate for NBA Coach of the Year. Mosley topped the projections with 48 points, doubling the total of Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, who placed second with 24 points. Mosley, who […]

The NBA unveiled its full 2025-26 regular season schedule this past week, which included the slate for the third edition of the NBA Cup. The Orlando Magic, who reached the quarterfinals in last year’s tournament, will compete in East Group B alongside the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Detroit Pistons. The Magic impressed […]

The NBA is more global than ever today. As a result, the number of international players has grown by leaps and bounds. With several talent from around the world, it’s only natural that plenty of international players also represent their countries in the international basketball scene. However, a handful of them have rejected the call […]

The NBA unveiled its full 2025-26 regular season schedule Thursday, and the Orlando Magic’s road to contention is set. The team will open at the KIA Center on October 22 against the Miami Heat, mirroring last year’s season opener but with the venue reversed. This season brings a significant increase in national exposure for Orlando, […]

The Orlando Magic have made bold moves to solidify their core and accelerate their rise in the Eastern Conference, but questions remain about whether their aggressive approach will translate into true championship contention. In a recent article published by ESPN, analysts Tim Bontemps and Kevin Pelton placed the Magic in the tier titled “All-in on […]

In a recent episode of The Zach Lowe Show, longtime NBA analyst Zach Lowe shared his belief that the Orlando Magic are ready to rise into the top echelon of the Eastern Conference during the 2025–26 NBA season. Lowe pointed to Orlando’s blend of youth, defensive identity, and smart offseason additions as reasons for optimism. […]

The Orlando Magic entered the 2025 NBA offseason with a clear mandate: bolster the roster around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, address their long-standing perimeter shooting woes, and solidify their backcourt rotation following injuries and a first-round exit to the Boston Celtics in April. The front office approached the offseason with urgency, understanding that their […]

The Orlando Magic selected Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and have now given him a $239 million rookie max extension, potentially rising to $287 million with supermax incentives. It is a franchise-defining move that showcases trust in the team’s philosophy and core values. The Magic roster battled […]

On Monday, Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero signed a max rookie extension with the franchise that will keep with the franchise long term, as reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. While this sort of move has appeared inevitable for quite some time now, it was still a testament to just how quickly Banchero has climbed […]

The Orlando Magic made a franchise-defining move Monday, locking in rising star Paolo Banchero with a five-year, $239 million maximum rookie contract extension — a deal that could escalate to $287 million with incentives. The team didn’t just make headlines with the deal — they added flair with a viral post. The Magic Instagram post […]

Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero was a first overall NBA Draft pick, and he has panned out so far. The Magic have a budding superstar, and they are locking him in for the forseeable future. Banchero and Orlando agreed to terms on a five-year rookie max contract extension on Monday, and the deal is worth […]

Ever since the Orlando Magic traded for Desmond Bane, it has sent shockwaves throughout the basketball world with how the news came out of nowhere. With Bane speaking about the “perfect” Magic trade, there’s no doubt he was surprised in his own right as he gave insight into how he found out about the deal. […]

Coming off the heels of the shocking deal that had the Orlando Magic trade for Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies, the team now heads into the summer with a bunch of momentum. With some calling Bane’s fit with the Magic perfect, he joins a core that includes Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, […]

With the shocking news that the Orlando Magic traded for Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies, there are already some looking at the long-term impacts on the team because of the deal. While Bane’s fit on the Magic might seem perfect now, NBA insider Matt Moore describes what the financial situation could look like in […]

Fresh off unveiling a franchise rebrand ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season, the Orlando Magic are reportedly exploring trade options to upgrade their offense and support rising stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. According to a report from Hardwood Paroxysm, the Magic are shifting into a more aggressive roster-building phase following their first-round playoff exit. […]

The Orlando Magic officially unveiled a new logo and three redesigned uniforms on Tuesday as part of a rebranding initiative ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. With rising stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner leading the way, the updates blend modern design with classic elements, reinforcing the franchise’s identity while honoring its roots. In a […]

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has received high praise from many across the NBA, but veteran teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope offered one of the most emphatic endorsements yet — with an NSFW twist. During a recent appearance on Above The Rim with DH12, the podcast hosted by newly inducted Hall of Famer Dwight Howard, Caldwell-Pope opened […]

Giannis Antetokounmpo was the league’s MVP in 2019 and 2020. Nikola Jokic won it in 2021, 2022, and 2024, with Joel Embiid claiming the award in 2023. Now, we can add Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the list after being named the 2024-25 NBA MVP. These are the last seven winners of the NBA MVP award and […]

Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero recently credited two former teammates for helping him navigate the early challenges of his NBA career. Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, Banchero reflected on his rookie season after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. The 22-year-old forward said the welcoming environment in Orlando played a major […]