The Orlando Magic were one of the worst teams in the NBA last season, as they finished as the 13th seed in the Eastern Conference.
However, things have certainly changed for the organization in the 2023-24 NBA season.
They have managed to play well to start the season and hold the fourth seed in the East with a 17-11 record.
A key reason behind the success of the organization is none other than the rise of Paolo Banchero in his sophomore NBA season.
So much so that his teammate Franz Wagner recently heaped NBA All-Star praise on him via Jason Beede on Twitter.
“Paolo should be an All-Star because he’s probably the main reason why we are where we are in the standings,” Wagner said.
Franz Wagner (24 points) makes the case for why Paolo Banchero (34) should be an #NBA All-Star:
"Paolo should be an All-Star because he's probably the main reason why we are where we are in the standings." pic.twitter.com/VNiL0dmEEM
— Jason Beede (@therealBeede) December 24, 2023
Wagner didn’t hesitate when mentioning that Banchero deserves to earn his first-ever NBA All-Star honors this season for helping the Magic reach where they are right now.
As for Banchero’s numbers, he is averaging 21.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game for the Orlando Magic this season.
But an even bigger improvement in his game is his shooting percentage.
While Banchero shot an underwhelming 42.7% from the field and 29.8% from the three-point line during his rookie year, he has bumped those numbers to 47.0% and 38.3%, respectively.
As a result, the Orlando Magic are playing better than ever and are one of the favorites to at least clinch a permanent berth in the 2024 postseason.
However, whether they can make a deep playoff run or not will solely depend on how well can Banchero play for the remainder of the season.
Can Banchero help the Orlando Magic in ending their playoff drought? Only time will tell.
NEXT: Magic HC Credits Star Player For Team's Success