Paolo Banchero Articles - Page 2

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 […]

Despite the Orlando Magic being eliminated from the NBA playoffs, Paolo Banchero is the promising piece, alongside Franz Wagner and others on the roster. However, the former No. 1 overall pick thinks that Orlando can reach another level. On The Pivot Podcast, the Magic star forward gave his organization a blueprint for who they should […]

As the Orlando Magic shift into a pivotal offseason with a “win-now” mentality, star forward Paolo Banchero took a moment to revisit his past. In a post shared this week on X, formerly known as Twitter, Banchero responded to resurfaced high school highlights with a pointed jab at ESPN’s 2021 player rankings. “and espn had […]

The Orlando Magic’s 2024-25 season came to a close earlier this week with a first-round playoff exit against the defending champion Boston Celtics. While the team made strides with its young core, the quiet trade deadline activity earlier this year has remained a point of discussion. On Thursday, team president Jeff Weltman emphasized the organization’s […]

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero expressed full support for the franchise’s shift toward a “win-now” mentality, following comments made earlier Thursday by team president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman. Speaking during his exit interview, Banchero reflected on the team’s first-round playoff exit to the defending champion Boston Celtics and addressed the growing expectations surrounding both […]

The Orlando Magic’s 2024-25 season ended with a 120-89 loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series, concluding a campaign defined by growth, resilience, and missed opportunities. After a quiet trade deadline drew criticism earlier in the season, Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman addressed the decision […]

The Orlando Magic’s 2024-25 season came to an end Tuesday night with a 120-89 loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. Despite the early exit, there is substantial optimism surrounding the franchise’s trajectory, led by Paolo Banchero and a young core poised for immediate growth. Banchero, in […]

The Orlando Magic’s 2024-25 season came to an end Tuesday night with a 120-89 loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. For third-year forward Paolo Banchero, the result left little room for optimism. Banchero, who was limited to 30 minutes due to foul trouble, finished with 19 […]

BOSTON — Making it out of the first round is nothing new for the Boston Celtics. After eliminating the Orlando Magic in five games following a 120-89 blowout win on Tuesday night, the C’s have now advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in eight of the last nine seasons. That doesn’t mean their postseason opener […]

The Orlando Magic’s season came to an abrupt end Tuesday night with a 120-89 loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. But following the defeat, attention quickly shifted from the scoreboard to the officiating. Magic forward Paolo Banchero, who finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, and six […]

The Boston Celtics eliminated the Orlando Magic from the 2025 NBA Playoffs on Tuesday night with a blowout 120-89 victory in Game 5. For much of the series, Jayson Tatum was squaring off against one of his close friends, Paolo Banchero, and after sending them packing, Tatum opened up on his relationship with Orlando’s star […]

The Orlando Magic are facing elimination as they prepare for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV. Down 3-1 in the series, Orlando will rely heavily on third-year forward Paolo Banchero, who has shouldered a significant two-way burden […]

The Orlando Magic picked up a crucial 95-93 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night. While Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner delivered standout performances, it was Anthony Black’s under-the-radar impact that helped push the Magic across the finish line. Banchero, who finished with 29 points, six […]

The Orlando Magic secured a critical 95-93 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night, riding standout performances from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to cut the series deficit to 2-1. Following the victory, head coach Jamahl Mosley praised the leadership and resilience of his young stars […]

The Orlando Magic secured a much-needed 95-93 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night, and it was Franz Wagner who delivered in the clutch to lift the team to victory. Wagner scored the final four points for Orlando, helping the Magic trim the Celtics’ series lead […]

The Boston Celtics are one of the NBA’s best offensive teams. They take and make the most 3-pointers, which can bury an opponent in minutes. However, when the 3s aren’t falling for Jayson Tatum and Co., things get ugly very fast. In the third quarter of Game 3, Paolo Banchero, Jonathan Isaac, and the Orlando […]

As the Orlando Magic face a critical stretch in their first-round series against the Boston Celtics, the team is standing firmly behind veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, despite his continued struggles on the offensive end. The Magic dropped Game 2 on Wednesday night, falling 109-100 at TD Garden and entering a daunting 0-2 hole in the […]

The Orlando Magic find themselves trailing 0-2 in their first-round series against the Boston Celtics after a 109-100 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday night. While the team remains focused on regrouping for Game 3 at home, frustration surrounding the officiating was evident in postgame comments from both Paolo Banchero and head coach Jamahl Mosley. […]

The Orlando Magic are hoping to even up their series with the Boston Celtics as Game 2 is going down in Boston on Wednesday night. Game 1 took place on Sunday, and after a strong first half from the Magic, the Celtics pulled away for a comfortable win. Taking down the Celtics on the road […]

Following the Orlando Magic’s 103-86 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green offered pointed criticism of Orlando’s supporting cast — specifically calling out veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Magic opened their playoff run with a tough showing against the defending champions, struggling to keep […]

Despite their continued rise and individual achievements, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner remain underappreciated by many of their peers, according to The Athletic’s annual anonymous NBA player poll. The survey, which polled 158 players across the league on a variety of categories, offered a revealing look into how players perceive rising talent, underrated contributors, and […]

Shaquille O’Neal knows what it takes to compete with the best of the best in the NBA playoffs. The four-time NBA champion watched his former team, the Orlando Magic, suffer a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday. O’Neal offered a bleak outlook on the Magic’s chances […]

Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic understood the importance of keeping Boston Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in check. However, they didn’t take into account the role players who can “kill” them. The Magic did well at making Tatum and Brown earn their points, holding them to 33 combined. However, they were unable […]

The Orlando Magic are set to begin their first-round series against the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics to open the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Game 1 is scheduled for Easter Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET at TD Garden, airing nationally on ABC. Orlando enters the series after a turbulent regular season marked by injuries to key […]