When the Orlando Magic drafted forward Paolo Banchero, they hit the jackpot with a developing superstar who has positioned the team to compete for a championship. Despite emerging as one of the league’s top talents, recent rankings show Banchero still isn’t getting the credit he deserves.
Bleacher Report’s latest Top 100 player rankings list Paolo Banchero at No. 19, tied with Kawhi Leonard. For a player viewed as a potential first-team All-NBA candidate, this ranking feels far too low.
“The pressure is on Paolo Banchero to make the leap from rising star to bona fide All-NBA talent after signing a five-year, $239 million max rookie extension in July,” Bleacher Report wrote. “If he cracks an All-NBA team, that deal jumps to a $287 million supermax, underscoring just how much Orlando is betting on him. After briefly losing his grip as the Magic's clear offensive centerpiece last season, partly because of lingering effects from an oblique injury and partly due to Franz Wagner's continued rise, Banchero enters 2025-26 with something to prove. With Boston's roster gutted and Desmond Bane arriving to provide much-needed spacing, Orlando has a real shot at contending in the East. Bane's shooting should free up Banchero as both a creator and scorer.”
Before his injury last season, which sidelined him for an extended stretch and hurt his chances at MVP and All-NBA honors, Banchero averaged 25.9 points as the Magic’s primary option despite a limited supporting cast.
“Still, there's room for growth. Banchero upped his three-point attempts last season but remains a career 32 percent shooter from deep,” the article added. “Orlando's net rating was 1.5 points worse with him on the floor.Even so, the 22-year-old 2022 No. 1 overall pick remains an impressive athlete and playmaker at the four. Fully healthy, he'll have every opportunity to prove he's ready for the next tier.”
Banchero will have a prime opportunity to prove his value in the rankings as the Magic lean on him for a strong playoff push.
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MAGIC PREDICTED TO MISS MAJOR MILESTONE: With the blockbuster additions of Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones, and Jase Richardson, the Orlando Magic have undoubtedly improved from last season and are poised to overcome the first-round playoff exits they suffered in back-to-back campaigns.
Since the offseason concluded, the Magic have consistently discussed finishing in the top three of the Eastern Conference. With the health and continued development of superstars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, that goal is well within reach. CLICK HERE