The Orlando Magic are having one of their best seasons ever and are a true force in the Eastern Conference right now.
They hold a 37-26 record and are the fourth seed after years of not even reaching the playoffs.
A huge part of their success is due to Paolo Banchero, the 21-year-old forward who earned his first All-Star appearance this year.
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley spoke about Banchero on “The Rich Eisen Show,” via NBACentral, and compared him to two NBA legends.
Mosley said:
“The thing about Paolo is he’s so dynamic. To put him in line with just one player is hard to do, because he has the passing ability of a LeBron, the scoring ability of a Melo, the basketball IQ he has is just something incredible.”
Jamahl Mosley says Paolo Banchero can pass like LeBron James and score like Carmelo Anthony
“The thing about Paolo is he’s so dynamic. To put him in line with just one player is hard to do, because he has the passing ability of a LeBron, the scoring ability of a Melo, the… pic.twitter.com/vVojbJ9TqG
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 8, 2024
Mosley got his start as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets during Carmelo Anthony’s era so he knows how that player performs very well.
Comparing Banchero to both LeBron James and Anthony is obviously huge praise and he isn’t taking it lightly.
James is known as one of the greatest passers of all time and Anthony is an elite shooter unlike any other.
For this season, Banchero is averaging 22.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.
His first season was phenomenal and earned him Rookie of the Year but Banchero is doing even better now.
His skills have improved but he’s also shown that his basketball IQ has increased too.
The Magic have multiple great young players on the roster but Banchero is definitely the biggest star and team leader.
After two years in the league, he is receiving comparisons to two of the greatest NBA stars of all time.
That is a sign that he’s definitely on the right path.
NEXT: Everyone’s Saying The Same Thing About Paolo Banchero's Season