Paolo Banchero’s ceiling has never really been the question. The real issue is whether the Orlando Magic can get that version of him often enough.
The franchise answered its own side of that equation by handing Banchero a rookie maximum contract extension, a clear sign he’s the player they’re building around. He’ll carry a $41.2 million cap hit this season, and that number tracks with what he already is: an All-Star, a Rookie of the Year winner, and a player who has already flashed superstar upside.
That upside was on display early enough that Banchero’s game drew comparisons to LeBron James in his rookie season. But last year wasn’t a straight climb. There were nights when Banchero was flat, and those uneven stretches made the conversation a little more complicated.
Even so, the highs were real. He had games where he took over, including in the playoffs, and that’s part of why the comparison still hangs around. The question now is whether he can put that level together more consistently, especially after an offseason in which he’s talked about working harder than ever and focusing on becoming a more durable player.
That was the point raised on a recent episode of the Full Court Magic Podcast, where the discussion centered on whether Banchero can get back into that LeBron conversation if the physical and skill-side growth keeps coming. As I said on the show:
"The same can be asked about Paolo Banchero, who, in a recent appearance on the Stephen A. Smith Show, talked about his offseason prep and how this is the hardest he has worked and how he has made it a point to become a more durable player for his team.
And I think that's important for Paolo, especially given his archetype; given his body type. This is a guy who was at his best being compared to prime LeBron James.
Now, we will be lucky if we see another player in the history of any sport have the durability that LeBron James possesses, at least on a superstar level. You know, you got guys like Mikal Bridges out there who are certainly Ironmen, you know, but a superstar-caliber player that has to put his team on his back and be that durable- you know, we're hard-pressed to see someone besides LeBron do that.
But Paolo can get in that stratosphere with the right kind of preparation. And it seems like he's taking it really seriously.
And that is important because this team needs him. They need the best version of Paolo because when he is at his best, he is a superstar, right?
We saw it in the playoffs, multiple years running now, this past series, despite an awful game six. And that wasn't just on him.
That was the whole team- just an all-time meltdown, a complete collapse from a basketball team. But, you know, you look at Paolo's game five and game seven on the road in Detroit and what he was able to do going head-to-head with Cade Cunningham when Franz Wagner was not out there to defend Cade Cunningham, which he had done at an all-time high level and really made things difficult on him. Like, Paolo was able to answer the call and go pound for pound, star for star.
And so, if the Magic are going to get that version of him consistently, they're going to be in a good spot because we know that there were times last season where Paolo looked indecisive, and it really affected his game. His handle looked slow, you know, poor shooting at times.
And the good news is that he acknowledged all of that, and that is so important to have from a young player who is the face of your franchise because it is a showing of leadership through accountability. And for him to be the ultimate leader, he has to take accountability first, and he has done so in a very, very good and respectable way."
If Banchero keeps building on that work, the Magic may not just have their face of the franchise. They may get the version of him that once had people thinking about LeBron James.
In Other News...
Magic Fans Now Face A Big New Question About Watching Games
The biggest change for Magic fans next season may not happen on the court at all. Orlando announced that DAZN will become its exclusive direct-to-consumer streaming partner in Central, West and North Florida for the 2026-27 NBA season, a move that puts most regular-season games behind a new local viewing platform while still leaving out-of-market fans with NBA League Pass as their route to follow along.
The team also laid out subscription pricing, along with discounts for season-ticket holders and extra features tied to premium plans, which makes this as much a fan-access story as a media-rights one. For a market that has been waiting to see how its games will be distributed going forward, the new setup gives clarity, but it also leaves a bigger question hanging over how much more convenient and affordable watching the Magic will actually be for the people who live closest to them. [Read more 🡒]
Franz Wagner Holds The Key To Orlandos Next Step
Franz Wagners summer has been about something more important than extra games or national-team pride: getting his body right for what the Orlando Magic hope is a real step forward. Wagner was limited last season by a high ankle sprain and a calf strain, and the injuries cut into his playoff run. Instead of suiting up for Germany, he opted to spend the summer recovering and preparing for the new NBA season, a choice that says plenty about where he and the team think their next leap starts.
Orlandos push into this next phase comes with Sean Sweeney now running the sideline and a core that includes Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs. The Magic have talent, but the difference between being interesting and becoming dangerous may come down to how healthy and effective Wagner can be after a summer built around getting back to full strength. If he looks like himself, the rest of the roster starts to fit together a lot more cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Enter A Season That Could Change Everything Fast
The Magic enter the season in a familiar spot for a young team with playoff expectations, leaning more on internal growth than on sweeping roster changes. Orlando has largely kept the group together, betting that a healthier version of its core can take a meaningful step forward while the front office keeps one eye on the standings and another on the books.
Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero sit at the center of that equation, not just because of what they mean on the floor, but because the teams financial pressure is tightening. Orlando is operating close to the leagues second apron, which means the margin for error is thin, and if this season stalls short of real progress beyond the Play-In Tournament, the conversation around the roster could turn quickly and become far more uncomfortable. [Read more 🡒]