<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-the-player-who-caught-jamahl-mosley-attention-win-over-heat');   ga('set', 'title', 'The Magic player who caught Jamahl Mosley’s attention in win over Heat');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Jamahl-Mosley-looks-on-during-the-first-quarter-against-the-New-Orleans-Pelicans-at-Kia-Center.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>The Magic player who caught Jamahl Mosley’s attention in win over Heat</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-23T11:11:28-07:00">October 23rd, 11:11am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-23T11:11:28-07:00">October 23rd, 11:11am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-jamahl-mosley-rave-desmond-bane-impact">Orlando Magic opened their 2025-26 season with a 125-121 win over the Miami Heat</a> on Tuesday night, head coach Jamahl Mosley made sure to single out one player who stood out in the victory — second-year forward Tristan da Silva.</p><p>Da Silva, coming off an impressive summer with Germany’s national team, provided a spark off the bench in his season debut. The 24-year-old finished with 16 points and a rebound in 18 minutes, shooting 5-for-8 from the field, 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line. His efficient scoring and timely plays earned him a plus/minus rating of +11, among the best on the team.</p><p>Mosley praised da Silva’s confidence and composure, <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">pointing to his offseason experience</a> as a catalyst for his early success.</p><p>“Exactly what we need from him throughout the year – being able to come in [and] make timely shots, playing with a high level of confidence,” Mosley said. “I think playing this summer with the national team did wonders for him to know what we need from him to not be afraid when he steps on the floor and play with that type of swagger.”</p><p>Da Silva spent the summer competing with the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/eurobasket-news-germany-accomplishes-feat-not-seen-since-2005">German national team in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket</a> tournament, where <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-dennis-schroder-franz-wagner-lead-germany-final-1st-time-20-years">Germany captured the gold medal alongside Magic teammate Franz Wagner</a>. The international experience, Mosley said, helped da Silva further understand how to contribute within a team of talented players and play with greater assertiveness.</p><h2><b>Tristan Da Silva’s growth gives Magic valuable depth and versatility entering new season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Tristan-da-Silva-23-reacts-after-making-a-three-point-basket-against-the-Miami-Heat.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>During his rookie season, da Silva averaged 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 41.2% from the field and 33.5% from three across 22 minutes in 74 appearances. His steady improvement and willingness to play within Orlando’s system have made him a reliable rotation piece heading into his sophomore year.</p><p>With the Magic entering the season healthy and deeper than in previous years, da Silva’s development provides Mosley with another versatile option on the wing. His perimeter shooting and ability to space the floor complement the team’s frontcourt led by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, giving Orlando flexibility to maintain offensive rhythm even when its stars rest.</p><p>Da Silva’s calm approach and efficiency reflect the qualities Mosley has emphasized across the roster — confidence, poise, and execution. For a Magic team aiming to build on last season’s 41-41 finish, contributions from players like da Silva could be critical in pushing them further up the Eastern Conference standings.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magics-paolo-banchero-desmond-bane-call-jalen-suggs-heart-and-soul-after-return-vs-heat">Magic will look to continue their strong start to the season</a> when they host the Atlanta Hawks (0-1) on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET to continue their three-game homestand.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

The Magic player who caught Jamahl Mosley’s attention in win over Heat

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magics-paolo-banchero-desmond-bane-call-jalen-suggs-heart-and-soul-after-return-vs-heat');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane call Jalen Suggs the ‘heart and soul’ after energetic return vs. Heat');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Jalen-Suggs-4-reacts-after-a-basket-against-the-Miami-Heat-in-the-fourth-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane call Jalen Suggs the ‘heart and soul’ after energetic return vs. Heat</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-23T10:42:35-07:00">October 23rd, 10:42am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-23T10:42:35-07:00">October 23rd, 10:42am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-jamahl-mosley-rave-desmond-bane-impact">Orlando Magic opened their 2025-26 season on a high note</a> Tuesday night, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/what-we-know-about-terry-rozier-chauncey-billups-fbi-investigations">defeating the Miami Heat 125-121 at the Kia Center</a> in a fast-paced, physical matchup that marked the return of guard Jalen Suggs. Playing in his first game since January, Suggs quickly reminded teammates and fans alike why he’s considered the team’s emotional core.</p><p>Suggs finished with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in just 17 minutes of action. He shot 6-for-7 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, and recorded a team-best plus/minus of +15. It was his first game since <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-president-provides-updates-jalen-suggs-moritz-wagner-injuries">undergoing arthroscopic surgery</a> in February to remove a cartilage fragment in his left knee — an injury that ended his 2024-25 season prematurely.</p><p>The former All-Defensive Team guard made an immediate impact on both ends of the floor, helping Orlando set the tone early against a veteran Miami squad. His return drew praise from teammates Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane, who both described him as the “<a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">heart and soul</a>” of the team.</p><p>“I mean everybody saw it… him starting the game hitting shots,” Banchero said. “Defensively, doing what he does – can’t say enough about what he does for our team and the player he is so it was great having him out there.”</p><h2><b>Desmond Bane calls Jalen Suggs the ‘heart and soul’ as Magic’s new core shines vs. Heat</b></h2><p>Bane, who made his Magic debut after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-desmond-bane-no-limits-orlando-after-grizzlies-trade">being acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason</a>, echoed that sentiment and spoke about Suggs’ influence during key moments late in the game.</p><p>“He’s a game changer,” Bane said. “I mean he made a big shot on offense, a big steal on defense, charge – as soon as the crowd started getting into it we were in a timeout with like three minutes to go and he was like, ‘come out we get a stop or two and this place is gonna explode and just ride that momentum to the end.’ I tell him all the time, he’s the heart and soul of this thing. Without him we’d still be a good ball club but he’s really the guy that puts us over the top.”</p><p>Bane added that Suggs’ presence provides an energy boost that can’t be replicated.</p><p>“He’s an energizer bunny – every time something happens he’s pumping the crowd up,” Bane said. “He brings that much needed juice for sure.”</p><p>The game showcased the chemistry between the Magic’s newly constructed backcourt and its established core. Alongside Suggs’ efficient night, Banchero led Orlando with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Bane contributed 23 points in his first regular-season game with the team. Franz Wagner matched their production with 24 points, six assists, and four rebounds in 36 minutes, further solidifying Orlando’s balanced attack.</p><h2><b>Franz Wagner praises Bane and Suggs as Magic eye deeper run with healthy roster</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Jalen-Suggs-4-reacts-with-guard-Desmond-Bane-3-after-a-play-against-the-Miami-Heat.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Wagner pointed out that both Bane and Suggs played pivotal roles in creating momentum late in the game, highlighting a moment that reflected their collective mindset.</p><p>“I just talked about Bane, not just as a player but that play shows his character – he’s a big time scorer but he really wants to win and does that type of play as well,” Wagner said. “And then J Suggs, pretty hard to find someone that I don’t know what it was, eight months off… six for seven, +15, it’s pretty impressive.”</p><p>Suggs’ return adds another dimension to Orlando’s guard rotation, which now features Bane’s outside shooting and veteran leadership alongside Suggs’ defensive intensity and emotional spark. The Magic finished last season 41-41 after a year riddled with injuries to Suggs, Franz Wagner, and Moritz Wagner. With a healthy roster and offseason additions, the team has set its sights on making a deeper postseason push.</p><p>The Magic will look to build on their opening-night win when they host the Atlanta Hawks (0-1) on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET as part of their three-game homestand.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane call Jalen Suggs the ‘heart and soul’ after energetic return vs. Heat

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-jamahl-mosley-rave-desmond-bane-impact');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero, Jamahl Mosley rave about Desmond Bane’s impact');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Desmond-Bane-3-looks-on-against-the-Miami-Heat-in-the-third-quarter-at-Kia-Center.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero, Jamahl Mosley rave about Desmond Bane’s impact</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-23T10:13:14-07:00">October 23rd, 10:13am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-23T10:13:14-07:00">October 23rd, 10:13am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/what-we-know-about-terry-rozier-chauncey-billups-fbi-investigations"> Orlando Magic opened their 2025-26 season with a statement win</a> on Tuesday night, defeating the Miami Heat 125-121 at the Kia Center. The debut of veteran guard Desmond Bane stole much of the spotlight, earning immediate praise from star forward Paolo Banchero and head coach Jamahl Mosley following his first game in a Magic uniform.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-desmond-bane-no-limits-orlando-after-grizzlies-trade">Bane, acquired this offseason from the Memphis Grizzlies</a>, scored 23 points to go with four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 33 minutes. He shot 7-for-18 from the field, 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-6 from the free throw line, playing a key role in helping Orlando close out Miami in a high-scoring contest.</p><p>Banchero, who led the Magic with 24 points, 11 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block on 7-of-17 shooting, said Bane’s aggressive approach and confidence fit seamlessly into Orlando’s system.</p><p>“He was just being himself and that’s what we’ve asked him to do since the day he got here,” Banchero said. “Just hunt his shots, be aggressive and let it fly. We trust him with the ball in his hands [and] whatever he decides to do with it so I thought he played great.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero and Jamahl Mosley praise Desmond Bane’s leadership</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Desmond-Bane-3-is-guarded-by-Miami-Heat-center-Bam-Adebayo-13-in-the-third-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Mosley <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">echoed that sentiment</a>, emphasizing Bane’s leadership and composure in key moments.</p><p>“Well he brings a calm but he also brings a toughness – his ability to get guys together in huddles,” Mosley said. “You saw him bringing the group together down the stretch, I think it was the 4:30 mark that he brought guys in. Jalen was over there getting the crowd going and Desmond brought everybody in and I think his ability to do that for this group says a lot. And also making the right play, putting the ball in his hands down the stretch – he can handle it, him and Paolo two man game, pick and roll… it’s a luxury to have these guys down the stretch to be able to make big time plays for one another.”</p><p>Bane’s debut performance capped off an all-around offensive showing for Orlando, as Franz Wagner matched Banchero’s 24 points while adding six assists, four rebounds, and two steals on 9-of-17 shooting. Wagner also reflected on Bane’s impact, praising his competitive edge and unselfishness.</p><p>“I just talked about Bane, not just as a player but that play shows his character – he’s a big time scorer but he really wants to win and does that type of play as well,” Wagner said, referencing Bane’s dive for a loose ball late in the game. “Like I said, you don’t know which play is gonna win the game.”</p><h2><b>Balanced scoring trio powers Magic past Heat, highlighting team’s depth and versatility</b></h2><p>The trio of Banchero, Bane, and Wagner combined for 71 points, marking just the second time in franchise history that three Magic players scored 20 or more points in an opening night game. The <a href="https://x.com/Magic_PR/status/1981177684257366450" rel="noopener">only other instance came on Oct. 19, 2022</a>, in Detroit, when Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and Wagner each topped 20 points.</p><p>For Mosley, the new scoring balance highlights Orlando’s growing depth and versatility.</p><p>“Those are very good problems,” Mosley said. “I mean, you see down the stretch we’re trying to find a matchup – we go to Paolo and Desmond in the pick and roll when we usually go to Franz and Paolo in the pick and roll. Jalen’s out there, he makes a big play. It says a lot about the guys that are not afraid of the moment and they trust each other enough to make the right play at the right time and they’re all capable of making big time plays and they celebrate each other. And that’s the beauty of this team — our depth, our togetherness, and the focus that we have to continue to work for one another.”</p><h2><b>Banchero says expectations are ‘exciting’ as Magic look to build on opening win</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Paolo-Banchero-5-looks-to-shoot-the-ball-against-the-Miami-Heat-in-the-third-quarter.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Banchero, now in his fourth NBA season, said the addition of Bane has elevated both the team’s confidence and expectations.</p><p>“The expectations are exciting, the pressure is exciting,” Banchero said. “It’s a privilege for people to think or have very high expectations for your team and I think we just wanna embrace that here. I wouldn’t say it was our best performance but we were able to still grind out the win and stay together. There was a lot of good as well so… going back to look at what we could work on and taking the good as well and just being better from it. But it was a very good first showing and I think the sky’s the limit for us.”</p><p>Wagner shared a similar perspective, noting that the offseason additions have sharpened the team’s mindset.</p><p>“Obviously with the moves we made this summer, our urgency is at an all-time high,” Wagner said. “A lot of guys that we added not just on the court with their playing style but with their demeanor, their character, I think fits us perfectly with what we needed. And add that to a really talented group that everybody got a lot better over the summer, I’m excited for what we can do.”</p><p>With the Magic’s home opener now behind them, the team will look to build on its early momentum when it hosts the Atlanta Hawks (0-1) on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET to continue their three-game homestand.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Paolo Banchero, Jamahl Mosley rave about Desmond Bane’s impact

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-10-greatest-players-franchise-history-ranked');   ga('set', 'title', '10 greatest Magic players in franchise history, ranked');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Magic-retire-Shaquille-ONeals-jersey.jpg"><figcaption>Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>10 greatest Magic players in franchise history, ranked</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-15T13:10:08-07:00">October 15th, 1:10pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-15T13:12:30-07:00">October 15th, 1:12pm</time><address><a>Tim Crean</a>Tim Crean started writing about sports in 2016 and joined ClutchPoints in 2022. He excels with his versatile coverage of the NFL, NBA, soccer, sports media, and more. As a longtime self-professed sports junkie, it is a dream to write about sports professionally. He’s a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan from Western New York and when he’s not enjoying a round of golf he's probably coaching youth soccer or flag football. You can catch all of his sports-related musings on Twitter at @twcrean.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic fans have seen some of the best and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-news-shaquille-oneal-lebron-james-top-10-all-time-list" rel="noopener">most dominant players</a> in NBA history. These stars have never brought a championship to the Sunshine State, but for brief moments in time, there were few better in the league. But who are the best and greatest Magic players in history? We’ll try to figure that out here with the all-time Top 10 Magic player rankings.</p><p>These all-time Top 10 Magic player rankings are based on what these stars did in an Orlando uniform and how they contributed to the franchise. So while Patrick Ewing and Dominique Wilkins are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-dwight-howard-has-interesting-reason-why-he-wasnt-on-nba-75-list" rel="noopener">Top 75 players in NBA history</a>, their short tenures with the franchise don’t put them on this list.</p><p>With apologies to some of the near-misses for this list, like Dennis Scott, Jameer Nelson, and Rashard Lewis, and to the Magic’s current young core that could certainly one day crack this list, especially after making the playoffs in consecutive seasons, here are the 10 greatest Magic players in <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ORL/" rel="noopener">team history</a>, ranked.</p><h2><b>10. Hedo Turkoglu</b></h2><p>The Magic is one of the younger franchises in the NBA. The team started in 1989 but has had quite a few impactful stars. One of those players was one of the original modern point-forwards, Hedo Turkoglu.</p><p>Now, there is no question that Turkoglu was frustrating at times as his form and effort were wildly inconsistent. But when he was good, he was really good.</p><p>The 6-foot-10 Turkish forward has two stints with the Magic, from 2004 to 2009 — when he helped the Magic reach the NBA Finals — and again from 2010 to 2013. In that last run, Turkoglu tested positive for a banned substance and was waived to end his tenure.</p><p>Ultimately, though, Turkoglu filled up the stat sheet for Orlando, and that’s what gets him on this best Magic players list. For his career with the team, he averaged 14.5 points, 3.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, shooting 37.9% from 3-point range.</p><p>During his best season, 2007-08, his averages were 19.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game with a 40.0% from 3-point percentage, which led to winning the NBA Most Improved Player Award.</p><h2><b>9. Scott Skiles</b></h2><p>The last mental image Magic fans have of Scott Skiles is him scowling on the sidelines, or maybe him quitting, during his one season as the team’s coach. However, for those who remember the diminutive guard on the court, those memories are much fonder.</p><p>Skiles was the sixth pick of the Magic’s 1989 Expansion Draft, and he spent five seasons down in Disney World. He made it through the lean early years and left after the franchise finally made its first playoff appearance in 1994.</p><p>Skiles averaged 12.9 points and 7.2 assists, and in his second season, he led the team in win shares with 7.0. He eventually had to make way when Penny Hardaway came to town, but in Shaq’s early days, he was the man running the show.</p><h2><b>8. Horace Grant</b></h2><p>A common thread on this best Magic players in history list will be that many of the names will be most remembered playing for another team. Horace Grant is no exception, but he came to Orlando after his heyday with the Chicago Bulls.</p><p>After winning three titles with Michael Jordan and the Bulls, Grant joined the upstart Magic to try and take on his old mates and win a title. He almost pulled it off, too. In his first season (while Jordan was playing baseball), the team lost in the NBA Finals to the Houston Rockets. A year later, they took on MJ, but the GOAT swept Grant and company in the Eastern Conference Finals.</p><p>Grant made his one All-Star Game with the Bulls, but he was on two All-Defensive teams during his stint in Orlando. In two stints with the team (1994-99, 2001-03), Ho averaged 11.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.</p><h2><b>7. Grant Hill</b></h2><p>Injuries robbed Grant Hill of his chance to be one of the best of all time, but as it is, he is still a Hall of Fame player for what he did in Detroit, Orlando, and Phoenix. While with the Magic, he missed an entire season (2003-04) with an ankle injury, but he still put up solid numbers.</p><p>With the Magic, Hill averaged 16.4 points, 3.1 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game. He also made an All-Star team and four playoff appearances with the team alongside Tracy McGrady and Dwight Howard.</p><p>Hill helped bridge the gap between the T-Mac and Howard eras in Orlando, and he was excellent at times while doing so. He never fully lived up to his potential overall, but he still gave Magic fans some great memories in the early 2000s.</p><h2><b>6. Nikola Vucevic</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Nikola-Vucevic-dunks-the-ball.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Centers are crucial pieces of Magic history, and two will appear much higher on this list. However, you can’t discount what Nikola Vucevic did, almost by himself, while in Orlando.</p><p>The Montenegrin big man was the No. 16 overall pick in 2011 by the Philadelphia 76ers and came to Orlando in the Dwight Howard trade, ending a successful but frustrating era in team history. And while he only led the team to the playoffs once, he was still the best player on the team for nearly a decade.</p><p>With the Magic, Vucevic averaged 17.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and made an All-Star team in 2019 averaging 20.8 points and 12.2 rebounds. Vooch will also go down in team history as the player who brought back the picks that allowed the franchise to build the exciting young team it has in 2023.</p><h2><b>5. Nick Anderson</b></h2><p>The enduring memory of Nick Anderson in the Magic pinstripes is missing free throws. He missed four consecutive shots from the charity stripe at the end of Game 1 in the 1995 NBA Finals to lose to the Houston Rockets. After that, his free-throw shooting went down the toilet and irreparably damaged his career.</p><p>Still, Anderson was part of some of the best Orlando teams ever, which is why he is among the top-5 best Magic players of all time.</p><p>The 6-foot-6 wing shot 36.3% from 3-point range during his Magic career (and nearly 70% from the line before that fateful night. He also averaged 15.4 points, 1.5 steals, 2.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game. Anderson was a great running mate for Shaq and Penny, and the team wouldn’t have had the success it did without him.</p><h2><b>4. Tracy McGrady</b></h2><p>Tracy McGrady became a Hall of Fame player with the Orlando Magic. After signing as a free agent from the Toronto Raptors. During his first season in Florida, T-Mac filled up the stat sheet, averaging 25.6 points, 5.3 assists, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game on the way to his first All-Star selection and the Most Improved Player Award.</p><p>In 2003 and 2004, McGrady took his game to the next level, winning back-to-back NBA scoring titles, averaging 32.1 and 28.0 points per game.</p><p>Ultimately, McGrady could never make it work in the playoffs, which was the story of his entire career. He made the postseason in three of his four years in Orlando but never made it out of the first round. Still, during the regular season, he was one of the best players in the NBA, making him top-4 on this greatest Magic players in history list.</p><h2><b>3. Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway</b></h2><p>Like Grant Hill after him, Penny Hardaway could have been an all-time great if not for injuries that robbed him of his explosiveness. Even so, for his first few years in the league, he was on track for a Hall of Fame career.</p><p>During the summer before his NBA draft year, Hardaway starred in the movie Blue Chips with Magic star Shaquille O’Neal. The two formed a bond, and on draft night, the organization decided to trade the best player in college basketball, Chris Webber, for Hardaway. The Magic thought that the dynamic guard was a better fit, personally and professionally, with their star big man.</p><p>For the first few years, this looked like a rousing success. Hardaway and O’Neal became the most exciting young force in the NBA, making it to the NBA Finals in Penny’s second season.</p><p>Unfortunately, all Orlando fans know how the rest of the story goes. Hardaway got hurt, Shaq left, and the rest is sad Magic history.</p><p>The numbers don’t lie, though, and Hardaway was fantastic early in his career. He made four All-Star appearances and three All-NBA teams. And when it was all said and done, he went for 19.0 points, 6.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game in his career with the Magic.</p><h2><b>2. Dwight Howard</b></h2><p>With a little distance from the ugly and embarrassing end to his Orlando tenure, fans can now look back with a little more fondness on the Dwight Howard era.</p><p>The No. 1 pick of the 2004 NBA Draft got the franchise back on track after Shaquille O’Neal left a little less than a decade earlier. Howard provided six playoff appearances for the team and led them to the 2009 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.</p><p>Coming out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, Howard was a gifted and explosive player who dominated on sheer athleticism, not necessarily technical basketball skills. Make no mistake, though, he did dominate.</p><p>Howard averaged 18.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game with Orlando. He also led the league in rebounding four times (and three times consecutively from 2007-10), field-goal percentage once, and blocked shots twice.</p><p>And with all due respect to Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, and Jameer Nelson — one of whom is in the top 10 of the Magic player rankings, and the others are just on the outside — if the team put some better players around him, Howard could have been a champion. Nevertheless, he’s the franchises all-time leader in points, rebounds, and blocked shots.</p><h2><b>1. Shaquille O’Neal</b></h2><p>No surprise here. Shaquille O’Neal is one of the best players in NBA history, which makes him the best player in Magic history.</p><p>What’s important to remember here, though, is that Magic Shaq isn’t giant, dominating Lakers Shaq or the big, plodding Heat Shaq. Magic Shaq was something basketball fans had never seen before and may never see again.</p><p>When O’Neal was young, coming out of LSU, he was lean and athletic. He could lead the fast break and dunk so hard the whole basket collapsed. And while his time in Orlando only brought one Finals appearance, Shaq put up his best numbers in his short four years there.</p><p>After it was all said and done, O’Neal averaged 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. Those numbers are all better than his averages with any other team in his 19-year pro career. He also made four All-Star teams, three All-NBA squads, the Rookie of the Year Award, and a scoring title. That’s why Shaq is No. 1 on the list of the greatest Magic players of all time.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

10 greatest Magic players in franchise history, ranked

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-predicted-to-win-2026-nba-finals-by-espn-simulation');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic predicted to win 2026 NBA Finals by ESPN simulation');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-and-forward-Franz-Wagner-22-celebrate-after-a-basket.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic predicted to win 2026 NBA Finals by ESPN simulation</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-14T13:33:52-07:00">October 14th, 1:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-14T13:33:52-07:00">October 14th, 1:33pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic were crowned NBA champions — at least virtually — in a new season simulation conducted by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. The projection, part of ESPN’s annual computer-generated forecast, predicts that the Magic will not only reach the 2026 NBA Finals but <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46554922/simulating-2025-2026-nba-season-predictions-nba-cup-playoffs-finals-champion-draft-lottery" rel="noopener">win their first title in franchise history</a>.</p><p>Pelton introduced the simulation by explaining that the results were generated randomly and do not necessarily reflect his or ESPN’s official predictions.</p><p>“In the spirit of ESPN’s NFL tradition of detailing the events of a single simulation, let’s go through the NBA season using simulation No. 620 — chosen because of its interesting outcomes — from opening night to the end of the NBA Finals,” Pelton wrote. “Note, this is not my prediction (or ESPN’s) of how this season will unfold. The outcomes are produced at random via simulation, and everything else, including player stats, takes creative license.”</p><p>According to the results, the Magic opened the season strong, establishing themselves as early contenders in the Eastern Conference. By Christmas Day, Orlando held an 18-8 record, narrowly ahead of the Atlanta Hawks (18-9) and the Miami Heat (17-9).</p><h2><b>Magic dominate simulation with top seed and first Finals appearance since 2009</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Desmond-Bane-3-drives-past-Philadelphia-76ers-forward-Dominick-Barlow-25.jpg"><figcaption>© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Magic’s success continued into the new year. At the All-Star break, Orlando stood at 37-16 — the second-best record in the NBA, trailing only the Golden State Warriors at 42-13. The New York Knicks (35-20) and Indiana Pacers (35-22) rounded out the top teams in the East.</p><p>By the end of the regular season, the simulation projected Orlando finishing with a 57-25 record — the best in the Eastern Conference and third overall in the league. The Warriors led all teams with a 63-19 record, followed by the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder at 58-24.</p><p>“The Warriors shut down any talk of a Thunder comeback by finishing the season on a 10-game winning streak to reach 63 wins, their most since 2016-17,” the simulation noted. “In the East, the Magic ran away with the top seed and finished seven games clear of the Knicks.”</p><p>The Magic carried their dominance into the postseason. They dispatched the eighth-seeded Chicago Bulls in five games before defeating the Toronto Raptors in six. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Orlando rolled past the Knicks in five games to clinch their first Finals appearance since 2009.</p><p>“The Magic cruised to their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2009, surprising New York at Madison Square Garden in Game 3 to take a 3-0 series lead before completing the gentleman’s sweep,” the report stated.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero leads Magic past Warriors in 2026 NBA Finals simulation</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Paolo-Banchero-5-shoots-the-ball-against-Golden-State-Warriors-forward-Draymond-Green-23.jpg"><figcaption>© Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The simulated Finals matchup paired the Magic with the Warriors, who were making their seventh Finals appearance in the past 12 seasons. The series stretched to seven games before Orlando prevailed in a dramatic finale at the Chase Center.</p><p>“The Warriors’ magical run to their seventh Finals in the past 12 years finally ran out of gas at home in Game 7, similar to Golden State’s loss to Cleveland in 2016,” the simulation read. “With Curry playing through a minor injury by the end of the season, the Warriors’ potent offense operated at less than full strength. Orlando took advantage, unexpectedly winning the first championship in franchise history barely a year after upgrading their starting lineup with [Desmond] Bane.”</p><p>According to the simulation, Paolo Banchero capped off a breakthrough year by scoring 32 points in Game 7 and being named Finals MVP. He reportedly split votes with Franz Wagner, who averaged 22 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in the series while defending Jimmy Butler.</p><p>If the simulation were to become reality, it would mark a historic milestone for a Magic team that has rapidly <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-paolo-banchero-orlando-will-be-judged-on-winning">ascended from rebuilding to legitimate championship contention</a>.</p><p>Orlando will begin its real-life pursuit of that goal on <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-desmond-bane-high-honors-nba-executives-2025-26-season">October 22 at the KIA Center against the Miami Heat</a> as the 2025-26 season officially tips off.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic predicted to win 2026 NBA Finals by ESPN simulation

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-fans-will-love-desmond-banes-smooth-offensive-game-vs-76ers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic fans will love Desmond Bane’s smooth offensive game vs. 76ers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Orlando-Magic-guard-Desmond-Bane.jpg"><figcaption>Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic fans will love Desmond Bane’s smooth offensive game vs. 76ers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-10T18:30:25-07:00">October 10th, 6:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-10T18:30:25-07:00">October 10th, 6:30pm</time><address><a>Zachary Howell</a>Zachary Howell is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints focusing on creating premier MLB content. He is a big fan of the Yankees, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Syracuse Orange. In his free time, he likes to be outside or read.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic went on the road to face the Philadelphia 76ers in their second game of the NBA’s preseason. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/desmond-bane-trade-grades-magic-grizzlies-blockbuster">Orlando traded for Desmond Bane early in the summer</a>, expectations were high. The former Memphis Grizzlies guard figured to be a good fit next to Paolo Banchero. In his second game with the Magic, Bane lived up to the hype, helping run the team’s offense.</p><p>The veteran guard contributed to the Magic’s blowout win, chipping in eight points in 21 minutes. Bane, Banchero, and the rest of Orlando’s roster are still figuring out how they gel together in the preseason. However, the new acquisition slashed in for a <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1976813317307220272" rel="noopener">nice layup</a> in a video captured by ClutchPoints.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Desmond Bane drives in for a SMOOTH reverse lay 🔥<a href="https://t.co/41Qu3mQcBg">pic.twitter.com/41Qu3mQcBg</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1976813317307220272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Magic made it into the playoffs but could not get past the Boston Celtics in the first round. However, injuries to stars across the Eastern Conference gives Orlando a great chance to take advantage in the 2025-26 season. Bane will be a big piece of the Magic’s success and could determine just how far the team can go when the postseason rolls around.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-franz-wagner-leads-germany-into-eurobasket-quarterfinals">Orlando fans watched Franz Wagner put on a show at EuroBasket</a> during the summer. With him, Banchero, and Bane leading the way for the Magic, the sky’s the limit. However, the team’s offense needs to be much better for them to make any kind of noise in the Eastern Conference this season. Bane was brought in to do just that, giving Orlando fans hope that the team can take a leap.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-desmond-bane-high-honors-nba-executives-2025-26-season">Magic’s trade for the star guard was named one of the best of the summer by executives around the NBA</a>. Two games into the preseason, Bane has delivered exactly what Orlando thought it was getting. If he can maintain his production into the regular season, the Magic could put a stranglehold on their conference.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic fans will love Desmond Bane’s smooth offensive game vs. 76ers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-desmond-bane-high-honors-nba-executives-2025-26-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic, Desmond Bane receive high honors from NBA executives entering 2025-26 season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Magic-news-Orlando-Desmond-Bane-receive-high-honors-from-NBA-executives-entering-2025-26-season.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic, Desmond Bane receive high honors from NBA executives entering 2025-26 season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-09T10:12:53-07:00">October 9th, 10:12am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-09T10:12:53-07:00">October 9th, 10:12am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic and new guard Desmond Bane are <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/2025-26-nba-gm-survey" rel="noopener">drawing praise across the league</a> as attention shifts toward the 2025-26 season. In the NBA’s annual general manager survey released this week, the Magic earned top recognition in multiple categories, while Bane was voted one of the most undervalued offseason additions.</p><p>With the regular season set to tip off in two weeks, Orlando emerged as the overwhelming choice for most improved team, earning 47% of the vote — well ahead of the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers, who tied for second at 20% each.</p><p>Bane topped the most underrated acquisition category, receiving 17% of the votes, followed by Denver’s Cam Johnson (13%) and Atlanta’s Kristaps Porzingis (10%). The 26-year-old guard also placed second for acquisition expected to make the biggest impact, collecting 17% of votes behind Houston’s Kevin Durant, who led the field with 73%.</p><h2><b>Injuries derailed Magic’s 2024-25 campaign but fueled key offseason changes</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Paolo-Banchero-and-Jayson-Tatum.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Magic’s presence across the survey’s major categories represents a clear shift in perception. After a 2024-25 season marred by injuries and inconsistency, Orlando finished 41-41 and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-franz-wagner-makes-guarantee-after-hard-fought-playoff-loss-to-celtics">fell to the Boston Celtics in five games</a> in the first round of the playoffs. The Celtics, defending champions at the time, were later eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals.</p><p>Injuries played a defining role in Orlando’s season. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner both sustained torn oblique injuries that sidelined them for extended stretches, disrupting the team’s offensive rhythm and depth. Banchero, who earned his first All-Star selection the previous season before being sidelined, still finished the year averaging 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Wagner averaged 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists before suffering his own oblique tear in December.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-president-provides-updates-jalen-suggs-moritz-wagner-injuries">Jalen Suggs underwent arthroscopic surgery</a> in March to remove a cartilage fragment from his left knee, ending his season prematurely, while Moritz Wagner tore his ACL in December and missed the remainder of the campaign. The injuries forced Orlando to adjust its rotations and rely heavily on its bench, testing the team’s overall depth and adaptability.</p><p>Despite the setbacks, the Magic showed growth under head coach Jamahl Mosley and entered the offseason determined to strengthen their backcourt and shooting. The front office addressed those needs by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-desmond-bane-no-limits-orlando-after-grizzlies-trade">acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies</a> and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-offseason-acquisition-jalen-suggs-jumping-for-joy">signing veteran point guard Tyus Jones</a> to a one-year deal.</p><h2><b>Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones’ arrivals position Magic among East’s rising contenders</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-and-Tyus-Jones.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Bane’s combination of efficiency, shooting, and physicality has been viewed around the league as an ideal complement to Orlando’s young core of Banchero, Wagner, and Suggs. Last season with Memphis, he averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 48.4% from the field and 39.2% from three. Over his career, he has maintained a 41% three-point mark — a consistency that should immediately help a Magic team that ranked near the bottom of the league in perimeter scoring efficiency.</p><p>Jones, meanwhile, brings stability and leadership to the second unit. The 29-year-old averaged 10.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.4 rebounds last season with the Phoenix Suns while shooting 41.4% from beyond the arc. His experience running different offenses and managing tempo is expected to complement the team’s defensive identity.</p><p>The survey also recognized Orlando as the third-best team in the Eastern Conference, receiving 60% of the vote behind the Cleveland Cavaliers (63%) and New York Knicks (53%). The acknowledgment signals that the Magic’s progress is no longer going unnoticed — their development, personnel upgrades, and improving offensive structure have positioned them among the conference’s rising contenders.</p><p>With Bane’s arrival, Jones’ veteran poise, and a healthy core returning, Orlando enters the 2025-26 campaign with momentum and credibility. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-paolo-banchero-orlando-will-be-judged-on-winning">Magic open the season on October 22</a> at the Kia Center against the Miami Heat, aiming to validate the growing belief among league executives that they are ready to contend for a top-tier playoff run.</p><p>If the team can maintain its health and consistency, the GM survey may prove prophetic — not just a reflection of optimism, but an early sign that Orlando’s breakthrough season is finally on the horizon.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic, Desmond Bane receive high honors from NBA executives entering 2025-26 season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magics-paolo-banchero-fires-99-percent-claim-about-desmond-bane');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero fires ’99 percent’ claim about Desmond Bane');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Magic-news-Paolo-Banchero-fires-99-percent-claim-about-Desmond-Bane.jpg"><figcaption>Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero fires ’99 percent’ claim about Desmond Bane</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-07T23:35:04-07:00">October 7th, 11:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-07T23:35:04-07:00">October 7th, 11:35pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero is confident they have the tools to be a strong contender in the Eastern Conference. They have flirted with success in recent years, and it’s only a matter of time until they get over the hump.</p><p>For Banchero, guard Desmond Bane could be the missing piece. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/move-orlando-magic-still-make-2025-nba-free-agency">Magic acquired Bane in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies</a> in exchange for Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and future first-round picks.</p><p>Many felt Orlando gave up way too much, but Banchero believes the front office made the right decision, describing the 27-year-old Bane <a href="https://andscape.com/features/orlando-magic-guard-desmond-bane-the-perfect-match-for-the-franchise/" rel="noopener">as a “great fit.”</a></p><p>“He adds what we’re missing, and he also adds to what we already have. It’s like the perfect match. We don’t have anybody who can make shots like him, who can kind of leverage the way he is able to make shots, then make plays for others and get downhill and create,” said Banchero in a report from Andscape’s Marc Spears.</p><p>Bane spent five years with the Grizzlies, blossoming into one of the more underrated two-way players in the league. Last season, he averaged 19.2 points, a career-high 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. He also shot a career-best 48.4% from the field.</p><p>The 22-year-old Banchero pointed out that Bane’s physique should bode well for them, even making a bold claim that might raise not a few eyebrows.</p><p>“He’s a Swiss Army knife as a player, as a guard. He is stronger than 99 percent of the guards in the league with how he’s built. He’s going to fit into what we do,” stressed the one-time All-Star.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-paolo-banchero-bold-predictions-2025-26-season">Banchero was limited to just 45 games last season</a> due to a torn oblique. He averaged career-highs of 25.9 points and 7.5 rebounds on top of 4.6 assists.</p><p>With Banchero, Bane, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs forming the core, the Magic could abracadabra their way to a third straight appearance in the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Paolo Banchero fires ’99 percent’ claim about Desmond Bane

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/why-grizzlies-santi-aldama-agrees-adam-silver-european-expansion');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies’ Santi Aldama helping push NBA’s Europe agenda while eyeing Desmond Bane rematch');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Grizzlies-news-Santi-Aldama-helping-push-NBA-s-Europe-agenda-while-eyeing-Desmond-Bane-rematch.jpg"></figure><h1>Grizzlies’ Santi Aldama helping push NBA’s Europe agenda while eyeing Desmond Bane rematch</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-06T16:57:05-07:00">October 6th, 4:57pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-06T16:57:05-07:00">October 6th, 4:57pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The NBA’s push toward global expansion has slowly moved from aspiration to reality. Commissioner <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-adam-silver-ambitious-2027-plan-nba-europe">Adam Silver has long championed international growth</a>, and now teams are experiencing what that vision looks like in practice. For <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/exclusive-tuomas-iisalo-grizzlies-rebooting-grit-and-grind-culture-ja-morant-jaren-jackson-jr">Tuomas Iisalo’s regrouped Memphis Grizzlies</a>, that future arrives this January with games in London and Berlin. However, Santi Aldama already knows what to expect when matching up against Desmond Bane’s Orlando Magic across the pond.</p><p>“Yeah, about the games (in London and Berlin versus Desmond Bane’s Magic), obviously super excited,” Aldama told ClutchPoints. “It’ll be a home game for them in Germany for sure.”</p><p>It is easy to understand why Aldama feels that way. The Magic’s roster reads like a European all-star team, particularly with their German contingent. Brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner will undoubtedly draw massive support in Berlin, alongside German national teamer Tristan da Silva. French prospect Noah Penda should also attract his share of supporters, creating what could feel like a hostile environment for the Grizzlies despite the neutral-site designation.</p><p>Yet, the primary storyline for Memphis remains the chance to compete directly against their former teammate.</p><p>“Playing against Des again, such a competitive guy. When we play (Bane) for the first time, I think it’s going to be great,” shared Aldama. “I am very much looking forward to it. I know he wants to beat us for sure.”</p><p>One game’s outcome is relatively inconsequential. As Aldama sees it, these <a href="https://nbaevents.nba.com/europegames" rel="noopener">European games as part of a larger movement</a> by the NBA’s executives.</p><p>“Regarding expansion and the NBA being more of an international game, for Europe it will be great just having the NBA brand there,” Aldama explained. “I think the NBA is the best league in the world. There’s no doubt about that. I think European basketball has always been at a super high level. If we can just make a way where the NBA is global, it will be good for the sport.”</p><p>The Spanish star’s perspective carries weight, given his own background in European basketball. Santi Aldama has experienced both the European and American systems, making him a natural advocate for a more integrated global basketball landscape. His support aligns perfectly with Silver’s public push for international growth as well.</p><p>That is why fans should expect more international ideas to come from the league offices over the next few years. An NBA presence in Europe is not just a business initiative; it is the natural next step for the league and basketball in general.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grizzlies’ Santi Aldama helping push NBA’s Europe agenda while eyeing Desmond Bane rematch

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-paolo-banchero-bold-predictions-2025-26-season');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Paolo Banchero bold predictions for 2025-26 Magic season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Paolo-Banchero.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>3 Paolo Banchero bold predictions for 2025-26 Magic season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-01T08:13:22-07:00">October 1st, 8:13am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-01T08:13:22-07:00">October 1st, 8:13am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic enter the 2025-26 NBA season under a completely new spotlight. After back-to-back playoff appearances and consecutive first-round exits, the team’s leadership has made it clear: the developmental phase is over. Winning is the only standard. Team president Jeff Weltman doubled down on that message during Media Day, while Paolo <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-bane-expects-monster-2025-26-season-paolo-banchero">Banchero himself welcomed the pressure</a>, saying expectations for greatness are exactly what he wants. Orlando doubled down on their ambitions this summer with the stunning acquisition of Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies, a move that pairs Banchero with one of the league’s premier shooters and playoff-tested performers.</p><p>Now entering his fourth NBA season, Banchero is coming off a year where he averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, showing that he can carry a heavy scoring burden while steadily improving his efficiency. His first two campaigns laid the foundation, but the 2025-26 season will be defined by whether Banchero can elevate from rising star to franchise cornerstone capable of leading deep playoff runs. Here are three bold predictions for what lies ahead.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero will post his first 27-point scoring average</b></h2><p>The first bold prediction for Banchero is that he will raise his offensive production to new heights, becoming a true 27-point-per-game scorer. While he already took a major leap between his rookie and sophomore seasons, Banchero’s shot profile suggests there is still significant room for growth. His career scoring average sits at 22.4 points across three seasons, but his steady rise from 20.0 as a rookie, to 22.6 in year two, to 25.9 in year three, indicates he has not yet hit his ceiling.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">here is the training camp footage you ordered <a href="https://t.co/rECUwCqFHG">pic.twitter.com/rECUwCqFHG</a></p><p>— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1973210604182937606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The addition of<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-bane-makes-career-high-guarantee-first-orlando-season"> Desmond Bane is particularly significant here</a>. For much of Banchero’s early career, he has faced packed defenses, as Orlando lacked high-level floor spacers who could consistently punish help coverage. With Bane stretching the floor and drawing defensive attention, Banchero will benefit from better driving lanes, more isolation opportunities, and greater space in pick-and-rolls. That added spacing could be the difference between him hovering around 25 points per game and breaking through into the high-20s.</p><p>Another factor is Banchero’s free-throw rate. Last season, he averaged 6.1 attempts per game from the line, hitting at a 72.7 percent clip. If he can get closer to eight attempts nightly while nudging that percentage up toward 77 or 78 percent, that alone could add two to three points per game. Combine that with improved shot selection, particularly from deep, where he shot 32 percent on nearly six attempts a game, and the path to a 27-point scoring average is clear. For a team that will be judged on playoff success, having a forward capable of putting up nightly superstar scoring numbers will be vital.</p><h2><b>Banchero will earn his first All-NBA selection</b></h2><p>For Banchero, individual accolades have always felt secondary to team progress, but 2025-26 could be the year where his personal resume finally catches up with his impact. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the season due to injury, the door is wide open in the Eastern Conference for another forward to stake a claim as one of the league’s best. If <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-paolo-banchero-orlando-will-be-judged-on-winning">Banchero carries Orlando to a top-five finish</a> in the East while posting career-high scoring numbers, he will have a legitimate case for his first All-NBA selection.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Paolo Banchero continues to put work in this off season </p><p>A 1st team All NBA season is not out of the equation for the 22 year old </p><p> <a href="https://t.co/8cJqdjmBoq">pic.twitter.com/8cJqdjmBoq</a></p><p>— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHoopHerald/status/1971661927920402889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The All-NBA process often rewards both team success and statistical dominance, and Banchero could be primed to check both boxes. The Magic are no longer a plucky young team hoping to compete; they are being built to win now. The front office’s decision to trade for Bane, while maintaining their core of Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, signals that this roster should be more balanced and dangerous than in previous seasons. A lineup that allows Banchero to both facilitate and dominate scoring could result in Orlando finishing among the top half of the conference, a prerequisite for individual recognition.</p><p>On the numbers front, a stat line of 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists per game feels realistic. That production would not only make him the centerpiece of Orlando’s attack but would also elevate him into the conversation with established stars across the league. He has already proven capable of producing at high levels in big moments, but now consistency and efficiency are the next hurdles. If he clears them, All-NBA honors will be hard to deny.</p><h2><b>Banchero will lead the Magic to their first playoff series win since 2010</b></h2><p>His growth in the postseason will be critical. In his first two playoff trips, the Magic showed fight but lacked the offensive firepower to close out games against more experienced opponents. This is where <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-couldnt-believe-orlando-desmond-bane-trade">Bane’s addition matters most</a>. Orlando now has a proven playoff scorer to complement Banchero, giving the team a balanced attack that is less predictable in crunch time. Opponents will no longer be able to load up on Banchero without fear of reprisal.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Magic star Paolo Banchero has been in the gym GRINDING this summer 😤</p><p>Predict his averages for next season 👀👇</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/ProHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ProHoops</a>)<a href="https://t.co/x7Gj0Q48vO">pic.twitter.com/x7Gj0Q48vO</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1963697950292611533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Defensively, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-confident-claim-orlando-expectations">Banchero has steadily improved</a>, and with Franz Wagner taking many of the toughest assignments, Orlando can afford to maximize Banchero’s energy on offense. If Banchero embraces the pace and efficiency improvements the coaching staff has emphasized, and if his supporting cast continues to grow, Orlando could find itself in a position to win 50 games and secure home-court advantage in the first round. From there, Banchero’s ability to dominate in playoff settings could finally carry the Magic into the second round for the first time in 15 years.</p><p>Ending that drought would cement Banchero’s arrival as not just an elite individual talent but as a franchise player capable of altering the trajectory of a team. For Orlando fans who have waited more than a decade for meaningful playoff success, it would mark the true arrival of the Banchero era.</p><p>If he can deliver on even two of those predictions, the Magic will firmly establish themselves as one of the rising forces in the Eastern Conference. If he delivers on all three, Banchero could enter the conversation as one of the league’s premier young superstars, and Orlando’s long-awaited climb back to contention will truly be underway.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Paolo Banchero bold predictions for 2025-26 Magic season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-offseason-acquisition-jalen-suggs-jumping-for-joy');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s offseason acquisition who has Jalen Suggs ‘jumping for joy’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Jalen-Suggs-4-dribbles-the-ball-against-Phoenix-Suns-guard-Tyus-Jones-21.jpg"><figcaption>© Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s offseason acquisition who has Jalen Suggs ‘jumping for joy’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-30T09:31:17-07:00">September 30th, 9:31am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-30T09:32:50-07:00">September 30th, 9:32am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-president-provides-updates-jalen-suggs-moritz-wagner-injuries">Orlando Magic opened media day on Monday</a> with plenty of optimism, as guard Jalen Suggs <a href="https://x.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1972709163533750405" rel="noopener">described his excitement</a> about teaming up with veteran point guard Tyus Jones.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-desmond-bane-drops-steady-rock-take-tyus-jones">Jones, who joined Orlando this offseason on a one-year deal</a>, brings playoff experience and steady leadership to a young backcourt. For Suggs, the addition represents more than a roster move — it marks a personal and professional reunion with someone who has been a role model since his high school days in Minnesota.</p><p>“The fact that I got stones in the building with me is like… makes little Jalen jump for joy, literally. I watched Tyus’ whole journey coming up. I literally blazed away from point guard in Minnesota especially from my eyes, he was doing everything that I wanted to do,” Suggs said.</p><p>Suggs detailed how Jones inspired him early on by excelling in high school, connecting with fans, and eventually winning a national championship.</p><p>“Elite in high school, one of the best players, took time in every game to take care of everybody who came out to Apple Valley to watch his performances and give love – always gave love to me and advice, and confidence, then he goes and wins the national championship which was high on my list, which I almost got, he low key got me on that one. But come full circle, I get to watch him in the NBA and now we’re in the same locker room talking about direction, talking about how to lead, the things he’s seen and felt in different environments, different teams, and in different points of the year – beginning, middle, and playoff time, all moments that he’s been in has been amazing,” Suggs said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="sv">Jalen Suggs <a href="https://t.co/tEKt0I9cq0">pic.twitter.com/tEKt0I9cq0</a></p><p>— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1972709163533750405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Jalen Suggs highlights deep bond with Tyus Jones as veteran guard joins Magic</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Tyus-Jones-21-drives-on-Orlando-Magic-guard-Jalen-Suggs-4-during-the-first-half.jpg"><figcaption>© Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The 24-year-old guard said the connection between him and Jones is rooted in shared history and family ties.</p><p>“I know him like down to the root, down to the core of who Tyus is and his family and where he comes from. That relationship is so pure and I’m very excited for everybody to see who Tyus Jones is for our guard group, not only for me and Tyus but for AB, Jase, for all of us to continue to grow [and] evolve off of each other. But yeah, having Tyus in here namely – so cool, it makes me so happy,” Suggs said.</p><p>Jones arrives after spending last season with the Phoenix Suns, where he averaged 10.2 points, 5.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 44.8% from the floor and 41.4% from three across 81 games. His ability to organize offenses and provide reliable shooting makes him a critical piece for an Orlando team that continues to rise in the Eastern Conference.</p><h2><b>Jones calls Suggs his ‘little brother’ as duo prepare for first season together</b></h2><p>Jones echoed Suggs’ enthusiasm, calling their opportunity to play together a full-circle moment.</p><p>“Jalen, that’s my little brother. We go back and it’s surreal to kinda take a step back and see where we’re at and understand that we’re both in the NBA, we’re teammates and it’s been fun. I’m looking forward to the season that we’re gonna have. We’re gonna have so many memories. Our families are extremely close, like it’s just a surreal feeling to be able to be teammates with him but yeah, that’s my little brother and I’ve been his biggest fan and gonna continue to be and I know it’s the same coming from him,” Jones said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="cy">Tyus Jones <a href="https://t.co/htP2i8LWKM">pic.twitter.com/htP2i8LWKM</a></p><p>— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1972713929852727371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Jones added that he has been working closely with Suggs in recent weeks, sharing experience and knowledge to help sharpen Suggs’ game.</p><p>“I’m trying to help him anyway possible – I’ve been in the gym with him a lot these first few weeks here. Just any knowledge that I have for him, anything that I can see that can help his game and vice versa, we’re just talking the game. It’s just been so cool to be able to be around him in this work environment because we haven’t done that before. We’ve worked out in the summers and things like that, but to really show up everyday and work on our craft and to work towards the same goal together has been cool and looking forward to doing it for the rest of the year,” Jones said.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-jalen-suggs-puts-nba-notice-desmond-bane-partnership">Magic open their season against the Miami Heat in October</a>, with Jones expected to bring veteran stability and Suggs eager to elevate his game alongside him.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s offseason acquisition who has Jalen Suggs ‘jumping for joy’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-jalen-suggs-puts-nba-notice-desmond-bane-partnership');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jalen Suggs puts NBA on notice about Desmond Bane-Magic partnership');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_5905.jpeg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Jalen Suggs puts NBA on notice about Desmond Bane-Magic partnership</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-29T13:44:04-07:00">September 29th, 1:44pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-29T13:44:04-07:00">September 29th, 1:44pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic believe they have found one of the NBA’s next elite backcourts. At media day on Monday, guard Jalen Suggs explained why he thinks his pairing with new teammate Desmond Bane could become <a href="https://x.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1972709163533750405" rel="noopener">one of the most impactful duos</a> in the league.</p><p>Suggs, who is recovering from a knee injury, said his early time with Bane has already created strong chemistry on and off the court.</p><p>“Absolutley, we’ve had a lot of great conversations to be honest. He’s especially been around this past month and in the building, which I have been as well so it’s created a lot of great space for us to be around, have conversations – both about basketball obviously because we’re in here working and out got to be enjoying workouts together and really got to feel being on the court with each other a bit,” Suggs said.</p><p>He added that his admiration goes beyond Bane’s playing style.</p><p>“But really what I’ve cherished most so far outside of seeing him play in the runs here and just being an absolute dog, talk the most smack in the building which I was talking from the sidelines, I wasn’t even playing and he was turning me up. But just our conversations about life, about where he’s come from, about the trials that he has faced, how he has gotten to this point in his career, being able to share vice versa things that I hold true to my heart and close to my heart – the things that make me who I am, the people who make me who I am and getting to share that side of everything,” Suggs said.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="sv">Jalen Suggs <a href="https://t.co/tEKt0I9cq0">pic.twitter.com/tEKt0I9cq0</a></p><p>— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1972709163533750405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Jalen Suggs believes Magic backcourt with Desmond Bane can become one of NBA’s best</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_5906.jpeg"><figcaption>© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The 24-year-old guard said that trust is already forming between them.</p><p>“I feel like it’s how you truly create chemistry, how you truly create that connection to where on the court I could trust Des fully because I know Des, and Des can trust me 100% because he knows who Jalen Suggs is. I think when we get to mesh that as time passes, as we continue to play, as the season evolves and goes on – I think the league, everyone that follows basketball will continue to see why not only why that was one of the best acquisitions of the summer, but why me and Bane could be one of the best backcourts in the NBA because of how well versed we are. In every aspect we either are elite or we cover for each other where we are elite and so I’m very excited to get to hooping with him alongside everybody else,” Suggs said.</p><p>The excitement around the new backcourt comes as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-jalen-suggs-out-knee-surgery">Suggs works his way back from a season-ending injury</a>. He suffered a cartilage injury to his left knee in late January that required arthroscopic surgery. Before going down, Suggs had averaged 16.2 points, four rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 41% from the field and 31.4% from three in 35 games.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-paolo-banchero-orlando-will-be-judged-on-winning">Bane arrives in Orlando following a productive season</a> with the Memphis Grizzlies. The 26-year-old guard averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals across 69 games while shooting 48.4% from the floor and 39.2% from three. For his career, Bane is a 41% three-point shooter.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-president-provides-updates-jalen-suggs-moritz-wagner-injuries">Suggs also provided an update on his recovery</a>, saying he remains focused on returning by opening night. The Magic are set to begin their 2025-26 season against the Miami Heat, with hopes that their new backcourt of Suggs and Bane can set the tone for a deep playoff push.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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