Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero Gets Real About Goals

As the Orlando Magic gear up for the 2026-27 season, the organization’s summertime activities have featured the introduction of new head coach, Sean Sweeney, a reunion with big man Nikola Vucevic in free agency, a successful Summer League run and more.

Players have also been making appearances during the offseason to discuss the upcoming campaign and their personal routines in the summer. Recently, Paolo Banchero joined Stephen A. Smith to cover those topics and more.

"For myself, it's been great," Banchero said about his offseason. "I've been locked in. I've been working. Definitely the hardest I've worked in the offseason, and just enjoying time around the family, friends. But it's been great, though."

During his fourth season with the Magic, Banchero averaged 22.2 points and 8.4 rebounds through 72 regular-season games. In Orlando’s first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, Banchero averaged 26.3 points and nine rebounds, but the Magic fell in seven games.

Orlando’s loss to Detroit marked the third consecutive season in which it has failed to get out of the first round. Moreover, the Magic have not won a playoff series since 2010. As Banchero continues to develop into a star and a leader of the organization, the desire to take the next step is growing.

"Absolutely," Banchero told Smith. "Like you said, your first couple of years, you're just happy to be here and trying to figure it all out, and after losing three years in a row in the first round, that sense of urgency is definitely there for me. Just to work as hard as I can and keep my mind on the main goal, which is obviously to win in the postseason and to get past the first round and deep into the playoffs.

"So, that's all that's been on my mind this summer," he added. "Obviously, getting ready for the grind of the 82-game season, but also doing what I need to do physically and mentally to get ready for a playoff run, because that's what we're trying to do."

The Magic were on the brink of advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but they squandered a 3-1 lead to the Pistons. After losing the series, Banchero made his feelings known to his teammates and the organization.

"Yeah, absolutely. I just said that we shouldn't be satisfied," Banchero said. "Obviously, this last year was probably the one that hurt the most, I would say. Being up 3-1, losing in Game 7 and feeling like we really had a real shot. Franz going down hurt us. So, definitely just telling everybody that we can't be satisfied losing the first round. That can't be the standard.

"That's not good enough," he added. "So, I think that was already understood. I know me, myself, some of the guys on the team, we've been having a lot of conversations over the summer. We were all just in Vegas working out and stuff like that. And you can tell it's a different type of mentality, it's a different level of focus and I think everybody's ready to take that next step. So, it's exciting, but we also know there's a lot of work to be done."

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