The Orlando Magic have quietly built one of the most intriguing young cores in the NBA, and at the heart of it all are Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner - two rising stars who continue to shape the franchise’s identity. Both under 25, both already cornerstones, and both still figuring out how to truly thrive together on the floor.
That’s the key word: together. CBS Sports recently ranked the NBA’s top under-25 duos, and Banchero and Wagner landed at No. 9 on the list.
They edged out Portland’s Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe but trailed Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels. And while rankings are always up for debate, this one sparks a fair question: how well do Banchero and Wagner actually fit as a tandem?
Individually, there’s no doubt about the talent. Banchero is a 6-foot-10 forward with a guard’s handle and a scorer’s mentality.
Wagner, meanwhile, is a fluid, high-IQ wing who plays with poise beyond his years. But when it comes to their chemistry on the floor, the results have been a bit uneven - not due to a lack of skill, but rather a combination of injuries, inconsistent spacing, and a limited sample size of both players being healthy at the same time.
Wagner, 24, got off to a strong start this season, shooting a career-best 36 percent from three on solid volume before an ankle injury sidelined him for 16 straight games. Banchero, 23, has had to carry the load in Wagner’s absence, and while his counting stats still look solid, his career three-point percentage sits at 31.5%, which presents spacing challenges when paired with Wagner, who isn’t much better at 32.5% for his career.
The numbers back up the concern. When both are in the lineup, the Magic are a modest 100-95.
When only Wagner plays, they’re 24-17. When it’s just Banchero, the record dips to 13-20.
That’s not a definitive indictment, but it does raise eyebrows. Are the Magic getting the most out of their two best young players when they share the floor?
That said, context matters. This isn’t a finished product - far from it.
Orlando is still in the early stages of its rebuild, and these are growing pains that come with building around two versatile forwards who are still developing their games. Last season, when both were healthier and had more time to gel, the duo likely would’ve ranked higher on any under-25 list.
This year, injuries have disrupted the rhythm.
Still, the potential is undeniable. Wagner brings size, savvy, and two-way versatility.
Banchero has the makings of a perennial All-Star. The fit may not be seamless yet, but these are the kinds of players teams want to build around.
They’re not just good - they’re foundational.
The Magic have time. And with both players still under 25, there’s a lot of room for growth - not just individually, but as a duo.
The question isn’t whether they can work together. The question is how the Magic can best unlock that potential moving forward.