The NBA has many rising stars like Paolo Banchero, who will spearhead the Magic’s postseason charge. Unfortunately, he has had his detractors, but people like Zach Lowe know his true potential.
The Orlando Magic have one of the most promising young cores in the league. With Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as the team’s cornerstones, they are in good hands. Banchero seems like the chosen superstar, as Matt Barnes even hailed him as a potential face of the NBA.
Orlando has the potential to surprise people in the 2025-26 season. They had a rough 2024-25 campaign, hurt by multiple injuries. With Desmond Bane joining the team, they look primed to be a high seed in the Eastern Conference.
Since Banchero is the star player, many have high expectations for him. The 2025-26 campaign is an exciting one for Magic fans, especially with a healthy Banchero and Wagner leading the charge.
In early July 2025, the Magic announced they signed Banchero to a maximum rookie contract extension. The deal could reach up to $287 million, which is a massive figure worthy of superstar-level players.
They are counting on Banchero to hit the ground running and live up to his deal. The 2022 Draft’s #1 pick is ready to meet the pressure and become the star player the team needs. With that, he has already shown he can live up to his potential.
NBA analyst Zach Lowe discussed how he feels Banchero will live up to his potential and silence the doubters.
“Heard a lot say Paolo is inefficient, he shoots a lot of mid-range jumpers, he’s not a #1 guy, how can you pay him like a number one guy? Don’t know what you are seeing, but this dude is awesome,” Lowe said on his podcast.
“I am more than OK paying him a max. I don’t know if he is going to be a first-team All-NBA player at any point, but I would probably lean towards there’s a season where he cracks it.
“But I watched this dude in the playoffs against elite defenses with nothing around him — no shooting, no help, almost nothing reliable… He just shows up and shows up and makes a fair share of really hard mid-range jump shots.”
The Boston Celtics do not have Jayson Tatum, and the Indiana Pacers do not have Tyrese Haliburton. That leaves the Eastern Conference wide open, as other teams will look to get the top spot in the East. The New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers are the likely top teams.
Amongst that group, the Magic deserve to be part of the top teams in the East. They suffered multiple injuries in the 2024-25 season, but they are healthy now. Banchero will set the gold standard for the Magic in the 2025-26 season in accordance with what Lowe said.
With Banchero and Wagner leading the way, the team will be better if they remain healthy. By adding Jalen Suggs‘ elite defense and Bane’s fantastic shooting, this group could surprise people. Orlando expects great things from this group, and they will be ready to reap the rewards.
