Paolo Banchero is still in the thick of the conversation when it comes to the best 23-year-old in the NBA, but Bleacher Report’s latest ranking gave the edge to Amen Thompson.
That decision puts Banchero in a familiar spot: the numbers and the role both say he belongs near the top, but efficiency is still the sticking point. The Orlando forward brings the cleaner scoring argument. He gets buckets at a higher volume, draws more defensive attention from beyond the arc, and has already shown he can carry the offensive load as the clear alpha for his team.
Thompson, though, has his own strong case. He has become one of the league’s most disruptive perimeter defenders, brings real rebounding value for his position and has been more efficient offensively. Even with fewer chances to operate as a primary isolation or pick-and-roll creator, he has still generated assists at a level that stacks up with Banchero.
For Banchero, the path back to the top of that age-group debate runs through the same place it always does: cleaner efficiency and a better outside shot. If those areas tighten up while his scoring stays intact, the Magic forward has the talent to separate himself from the pack.
That’s the larger backdrop for Orlando, too. The Magic have been bounced in the first round three years in a row, and this season carries real pressure for Banchero to take another step. At 23, there’s still plenty of room for that leap.
Strouble made that point on a recent episode of the Full Court Magic Podcast, pointing to the kind of postseason flashes that keep Banchero’s ceiling in view.
"But when Paolo's on, he's been on. I mean, let's not forget what he was able to accomplish in the postseason when his team really needed it.
We're talking about a guy that went head-to-head with Cade Cunningham in that Game 5 loss to the Detroit Pistons-45 points, six of 11 from the three-point line, 17 of 31 from the field, played like a superstar. And he's done that before on this stage.
What about the 38 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in Game 7, right? And just how he took over that game from the jump, but it just wasn't enough, right?
And so, can Paolo take the next step? Can he do what needs to be done to show that, 'Hey, I can be the face of this franchise and I can help lead this team to higher places than it's been'?
Because this is a Magic team that has not won a playoff series in 16 years, and last year was the most heartbreaking way it could have gone out."
That’s the challenge in front of Banchero now. The production is already there. The next jump is what decides how far his name climbs.
In Other News...
Magic Just Made A Bigger Play For Tampa Area Fans
The Magic are giving their push into the Tampa-St. Petersburg market a bigger platform, announcing an expanded partnership with WMOR-TV that will put all regular season games not picked up nationally on the air there for the 2026-27 NBA season. It is an extension of an existing arrangement, but the new setup should make the team far easier to follow for viewers on the west coast of Florida who have been stuck piecing together access in the past.
The broadcasts will continue to feature Dante Marchitelli and Jeff Turner, with Kendra Douglas back as reporter, giving the regional telecasts some continuity as the Magic deepen their reach beyond Orlando. For a franchise that has long worked to widen its footprint, full over-the-air access in Tampa carries obvious value, and it also gives the team another way to stay visible in one of Floridas most important media markets. [Read more 🡒]
Orlando Magic Still Have One Obvious Hurdle To Real Playoff Progress
Injuries have been the constant drag on Orlandos rise, with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner both forced to work through stretches that undercut the teams rhythm and ceiling. Even so, the Magic kept pushing enough to reach the playoffs, a sign of how much talent remains in place and how much the group has been able to withstand while trying to climb in the East.
The first-round exit, though, left the front office with a clear message: getting there is not the same as taking the next step. Jamahl Mosley was dismissed and Sean Sweeney was brought in to guide the next phase, with the organization continuing to circle back to the same core issue - health and consistency have to hold if Orlando is going to turn promise into real postseason progress. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Fans In Tampa Just Got A Much Easier Way To Watch
Magic fans in Tampa are about to have a much simpler way to keep up with the team. The Orlando Magic and WMOR-TV announced a partnership that will put all regular-season games, aside from national exclusives, on the air for Tampa viewers on WMOR-TV Channel 32 during the 2026-27 season, a meaningful step up from the 10 games the station carried in 2025-26.
For a fan base spread well beyond Orlando, the move adds another layer to the teams growing local media footprint. The Magic already have a separate deal with Cox Media Group to air games in Orlando, and they are expected to announce a direct-to-consumer streaming partner soon, giving supporters another piece of the puzzle as the club continues to widen access across the region. [Read more 🡒]