Paolo Banchero says the Kevin Durant workout that went viral was only part of the story.
The Magic forward addressed the buzz at Orlando Magic Media Day on Monday when speaking with NBA Insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, making it clear that the camera caught just one of several sessions he’s had with Durant. The two were seen working out together two months ago, and once the clip hit social media, it took off fast.
“It’s funny, everybody keeps asking me about the workouts,” Banchero laughed. “That was only one workout, there just happened to be cameras there.
But I love working with KD. I have in the past before.”
For Banchero, the value isn’t just in sharing a gym with one of the game’s biggest names. It’s in studying how Durant approaches the work. He said their games and bodies are different, but the lessons still translate.
“Obviously, our games are a lot different, and our bodies are a lot different,” Banchero explained. “But I think the biggest thing I take from him is just how he works out, the intensity at which he works out, and how every rep he does is game speed, you know? I think those are the biggest things I’ve learned from him.”
He also said Durant has been generous with his time and guidance.
“Just for him to allow me to work out with him, take me under his wing a little bit and give me some pointers-it’s definitely a help.”
Not everyone loved the optics of the pairing. Kendrick Perkins weighed in on First Take in late July and said he would rather see Durant spend that time mentoring the players he’ll actually share the floor with in Houston.
"I've been seeing a video that's been circulating of KD working out with Paolo Banchero and I appreciate the mentorship. But that's mentorship needs to be going at the guys he's actually going to be on the floor with this upcoming season," Perkins said.
"I wanna see videos of KD in the lab with Jabari Smith, I wanna see videos of Sengun and Kevin Durant working out."
Banchero has talked before about what it means to hear that kind of respect from elite veterans. On JJ Redick’s podcast a few years ago, he described time spent with Durant and former Rocket forward Carmelo Anthony as a huge boost.
“I spent a lot of time talking to them and got to connect with them. I left there feeling motivated.
(They gave) a lot of advice. I exchanged numbers with them.
I didn't realize how much they're fans of me, and they expressed that to me. It really just kind of took me back,” said Banchero via Cody Taylor of Rookie Wire.
“Getting validation from them was all I needed to hear. Being able to receive that and being able to take it and add some of that stuff to my game and my mindset just went a long way. I don't need to hear nothing else from nobody; hearing that stuff from them was amazing.”
In Other News...
Bucks Fans Should Watch What Sean Sweeney Is Building In Orlando
Sean Sweeneys first message as the new head coach in Orlando was as direct as it gets: the Magic want their defense back at the center of everything. At Media Day, he framed that as more than a talking point, tying the teams identity to the kind of consistency that used to make Orlando a difficult opponent to deal with for four quarters.
The early signs of how that will look are already coming from the roster. Anthony Black, Wendell Carter Jr., Jase Richardson and Izaiyah Nelson each described the defensive responsibilities and goals they expect to take on in Sweeneys system, a reminder that this reset is going to be built from the ground up. What matters now is how quickly those ideas turn into something the Magic can actually hang their season on. [Read more 🡒]
Wendell Carter Holds The Key To Orlandos Defensive Identity
Training camp is giving Sean Sweeney his first real chance to shape both ends of the floor while learning what this roster can do, and Wendell Carter has already emerged as one of the more important voices in that process. The Magic center does a lot of the unglamorous work that tends to define a good defense, and Sweeney described his role in a way that fits the job neatly, likening him to a middle linebacker who helps quarterback the unit.
For Orlando, the bigger question is how that translates once the games start counting. The staff is leaning on its centers to anchor the paint and drive the teams rim protection, and Carters presence should go a long way toward setting the tone for that identity. If the Magic are going to look the way Sweeney wants, the defensive standard inside will matter as much as any adjustment made in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Nikola Vuevis Return Gives The Magic Something This Core Needed
Nikola Vuevi is back in Orlando, and the move gives the Magic a familiar frontcourt piece who can help with two things this roster has needed around its young core: spacing and rebounding. After nine seasons with the franchise the first time around, he returns to a team built around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, bringing a level of experience the Magic can lean on as they try to sharpen the edges of a promising group.
Vuevi has also sounded encouraged about the setup under new head coach Sean Sweeney and his staff, which matters for a team still defining how all of its pieces fit together. For Orlando, the fit is the real storyline here, because this is less about nostalgia than about whether a proven veteran can make life easier for the players expected to carry the next step. [Read more 🡒]