<!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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-eyeing-more-banners-after-2023-24-breakout');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero eyeing more banners after 2023-24 breakout');   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/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-eyeing-more-banners-after-2023-24-breakout.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero eyeing more banners after 2023-24 breakout</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-01T14:30:03-07:00">October 1st, 2:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-01T14:31:40-07:00">October 1st, 2:31pm</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>The Orlando Magic took a significant leap forward during the 2023-24 NBA season, improving their win total from 22 to 47 and securing a playoff berth for the first time in over four years. Their performance also earned them the Southeast Division title, their first since 2019, marking a resurgence for the franchise.</p><p>A key factor in the Magic’s success was the breakout season of Paolo Banchero, who has firmly established himself as one of the NBA’s rising stars. Banchero, the driving force behind Orlando’s improvement, continues to set high expectations for both himself and the team as he eyes future <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-bold-predictions-nba-future">MVP honors and championship success</a>.</p><p>During Monday’s media day, Paolo Banchero reflected on the Magic’s <a href="https://x.com/FAmer__/status/1841171834387018009" rel="noopener">recent accomplishments</a>, particularly the Southeast Division banner.</p><p>“I think just looking at it, it’ll be the start of something even greater,” Banchero said. “It’s good to be able to put stuff like that up on the walls. Hopefully we can put a couple more banners up.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero’s leadership solidifies Magic as rising Eastern Conference contenders </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-5-reacts-with-forward-Franz-Wagner-22-after-making-a-shot-against-the-Utah-Jazz.jpg"><figcaption>© Rob Gray-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Banchero’s impact on the Magic has been undeniable. The 6-foot-10 forward played a pivotal role in their turnaround, leading the team in points and assits throughout the season. His consistent performances have elevated the Magic’s status, placing them in the conversation as a future contender in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-setting-foundation-early-training-camp-ensure-postseason-success">Banchero setting the tone</a>, Orlando now aims to build on its momentum. The Magic’s core, which includes Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs — who is playing for a contract extension after earning NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors last season — and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-kentavious-caldwell-pope-leaving-nuggets-for-orlando">newly acquired veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</a>, provides the team with a solid foundation moving forward. Suggs’ defensive presence and Caldwell-Pope’s experience will be crucial as the Magic look to take the next step.</p><p>Looking ahead, Banchero is focused on taking the Orlando Magic even further. While the Southeast Division title was a significant achievement, he remains committed to pushing the team to greater heights. His sights are set on deeper playoff runs and, eventually, adding a championship banner to the KIA Center’s rafters.</p><p>As Orlando continues to grow, Paolo Banchero’s leadership and determination will be crucial in shaping the team’s future. The Magic, bolstered by their young star, are poised to be a team to watch in the coming seasons.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero eyeing more banners after 2023-24 breakout

<!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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-setting-foundation-early-training-camp-ensure-postseason-success');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero ‘setting foundation’ early in training camp to ensure postseason success');   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/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-setting-foundation-early-in-training-camp-to-ensure-postseason-success.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero ‘setting foundation’ early in training camp to ensure postseason success</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-01T13:07:06-07:00">October 1st, 1:07pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-01T14:03:04-07:00">October 1st, 2:03pm</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>With the 2024-25 NBA season approaching, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-bold-predictions-nba-future">Orlando Magic are setting the stage for another playoff run</a>, led by their rising star Paolo Banchero. As the team gathered for media day ahead of the start of training camp this week, Banchero made it clear that he and his teammates <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/video" rel="noopener">have lofty expectations</a> for the upcoming season.</p><p>Banchero, 21, is entering his third NBA season, coming off an impressive sophomore campaign that saw him earn his first All-Star selection and guide the Magic to their first playoff appearance in over four years. The forward played a pivotal role in Orlando’s resurgence, averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting 45.5% from the field during the 2023-24 season.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero emphasizes home-court advantage as key to deeper playoff push</b></h2><p>Despite the Orlando Magic’s promising performance, their postseason run ended in a tightly contested <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-joins-exclusive-lebron-james-company-in-game-7-loss-to-cavs">seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers</a>. As Banchero reflected on last season and looked ahead, he stressed the importance of building on their success and pushing for deeper playoff runs.</p><p>“We don’t want to be the same as last year,” Banchero said. “We want to improve in all areas and build off what we did last year. If we got knocked out in the first round again, nobody will be calling that a success.”</p><p>Paolo Banchero emphasized that securing home-court advantage is a key focus for the Magic this season. Orlando excelled on its home floor last season, finishing with a 29-12 record at the KIA Center. However, their road struggles, <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=best+nba+road+record+2023-2024" rel="noopener">where they went 18-23</a>, ultimately contributed to their playoff exit.</p><p>“We are a helluva team at home,” Banchero noted. “That’s why we want to make home court the focus of our playoffs. Our defense and ability to get stops, even when our offense isn’t clicking, is something we can hang our hats on. We’re together as a group, and it’s our third year building together, so we’re going to keep improving.”</p><h2><b>Banchero highlights Orlando Magic’s offseason acquisitions </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kentavious-Caldwell-Pope-5-reacts-during-the-third-quarter-against-the-Los-Angeles-Lakers.jpg"><figcaption>© Andrew Wevers-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Orlando bolstered its roster this offseason with veteran additions aimed at providing leadership and experience. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-kentavious-caldwell-pope-leaving-nuggets-for-orlando">Magic acquired swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</a>, a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers (2020) and Denver Nuggets (2023), as well as veteran guard Cory Joseph, who also has championship experience. Additionally, the Magic drafted forward Tristan Da Silva to address their perimeter shooting, an area where they ranked in the bottom half of the league last season.</p><p>Banchero praised the new acquisitions, particularly Caldwell-Pope and Joseph, for their potential to provide much-needed guidance in the locker room.</p><p>“We brought in some good veterans in Cory and KCP,” Banchero said. “I think two guys that are going to be a huge voice for us in the locker room, huge veteran leadership. KCP, especially, bringing his shooting, defense, and vocal leadership. He’s won championships in recent years, so he knows what it takes to get there.”</p><p>Orlando’s defense, led by Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, was a strong point last season. Suggs earned a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, becoming the first Magic player to receive that honor since Dwight Howard in 2012. Banchero expressed excitement about the potential pairing of Suggs and Caldwell-Pope in the backcourt, noting how their defensive prowess would ease his responsibilities on the wing.</p><p>“That’s gonna be awesome to see,” Banchero said. “It’s gonna make me and Franz’s job a little easier defending on the wing because you’ve got those two chasing guys around.”</p><h2><b>Magic set sights on national spotlight ahead of 2024-25 season</b></h2><p>Looking ahead to the new season, Banchero has set personal and team-oriented goals, with his sights set on a deep playoff run.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Paolo Banchero listed making the Eastern Conference Finals as his primary goals for the upcoming season: “My first year was rookie of the year, second year was All-Star. But I think really what I want is to get to the Eastern finals. Get deep into playoffs”</p><p>🎥: <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OrlandoMagic</a> <a href="https://t.co/R3mc94A7Qv">pic.twitter.com/R3mc94A7Qv</a></p><p>— Fawzan Amer (@FAmer__) <a href="https://twitter.com/FAmer__/status/1840821826802303380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>“My first year was Rookie of the Year, second year was All-Star,” Banchero said. “Obviously, I want to be an All-Star again, All-NBA, all that stuff. But really, what I want is to get to the Eastern Conference Finals, get deep into the playoffs, and make a run.”</p><p>The Orlando Magic are also looking forward to a greater presence on national television this season, something that Banchero believes will raise the team’s profile.</p><p>“Those games make a difference,” Banchero said. “Those games get you out to the whole world, and I know people are going to turn on their TV and see the Magic. It’s kind of surprising for some people, but I’m excited, and we’ll have some good games.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">stack days <a href="https://twitter.com/Pp_doesit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pp_doesit</a> <a href="https://t.co/qnbfpAzN6k">https://t.co/qnbfpAzN6k</a> <a href="https://t.co/kWqltqYlSv">pic.twitter.com/kWqltqYlSv</a></p><p>— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1840794912440172824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Training camp will be a critical period for the Magic as they aim to solidify their team chemistry and set the foundation for a successful season. For Banchero, the habits formed in these early stages of the season are key to long-term success.</p><p>“Last year taught us that the habits you set at the beginning of the season show up in the playoffs, good and bad,” Banchero said. “I think us learning that is going to make it so this year in November, December, January, we’re focused on the foresight of trying to get home court and playing in April and May.”</p><h2>Magic aim to contend for Eastern Conference title</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Paolo-Banchero-5-dribbles-up-court-against-the-Cleveland-Cavaliers.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With Paolo Banchero leading the charge, the Magic are positioned to take another significant step forward this season. If they can build on last year’s successes and overcome their road woes, the team could find themselves competing deep into the postseason.</p><p>As the 2024-25 NBA season looms, the Orlando Magic are eager to prove that they are not only playoff contenders but a team with the potential to make a serious push for an Eastern Conference title.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero ‘setting foundation’ early in training camp to ensure postseason success

<!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', '/magic-news-paul-george-gives-paolo-banchero-flowers-before-2024-25-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paul George gives Magic star Paolo Banchero his flowers before 2024-25 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/2024/09/Paul-George-gives-Paolo-Banchero-his-flowers-before-2024-25-season.jpg"></figure><h1>Paul George gives Magic star Paolo Banchero his flowers before 2024-25 season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-17T16:59:45-07:00">September 17th, 4:59pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-17T16:59:45-07:00">September 17th, 4:59pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Last season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-sets-lofty-expectations-for-2024-25-season">Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero</a> established himself as one of the top rising young stars in the NBA. Banchero evolved into the Magic’s best player, averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in his second year in the league.</p><p>Banchero’s production was enough to earn him a spot in the NBA All-Star game at midseason, and he also garnered consideration for one of the 15 All-NBA spots before just missing out.</p><p>After becoming one of the league’s top players last season, many are looking at Banchero to take another leap into superstardom in 2024-25. Paul George <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@podcastpshow" rel="noopener">is on board</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1836172932273573972" rel="noopener">showed the former Duke star some love</a> on a recent Podcast P is presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment episode.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Who 25 and under would you build your franchise around today? You can’t pick Luka, Anthony Edwards, &amp; Wemby.”</p><p>Paul George: “I think who’s shown that they’re ready for that next jump &amp; I think was a star. For sure Paolo [Banchero].”</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/PodcastPShow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PodcastPShow</a>) <a href="https://t.co/c6VdbTmVjD">pic.twitter.com/c6VdbTmVjD</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1836172932273573972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“He is a grown man,” George said. “He’s a force. He’s great in transition, he’s great in isolations, he’s great at sizing dudes up and using his strength to get by and blow by.”</p><p>Taking Banchero over the rest of that crop of stars under the age of 25 may seem like a bold take, but it speaks volumes about his progress that he’s entered that discussion.</p><h2><b>What is Paolo Banchero’s ceiling in 2024-25?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Paolo-Banchero_356aee.jpg"><figcaption>Mike Watters-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After Paolo Banchero became an NBA All-Star and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/orlando-magic-bold-predictions-after-2024-25-season-schedule-release">led the Magic to the playoffs</a> last season, many are wondering how high he can go in year three in the NBA.</p><p>Individually, Banchero still has plenty of room for growth as a scorer, and it starts with his shooting. He already gets to the free throw line at one of the highest rates in the league, but struggled to knock them down at times. Banchero shot just 72.5% on about seven free throw attempts per game last season. If he can get that percentage up into the high-70s, it will instantly bump up his scoring average.</p><p>Banchero can also improve from beyond the three-point line. He already made a big leap from 29.8% from deep as a rookie to 33.9% last season, which is just below league average. If he takes another jump this season from the outside, it’s easy to see him averaging 25 points per game or more.</p><p>Banchero should also benefit from having more space on the court. Spacing was a major problem for the Magic last season, as they were constantly forced into playing too many non-shooters at a time. This offseason, they added veteran wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and drafted Colorado product Tristan da Silva in the first round, both of whom should relieve some pressure with their shooting ability.</p><p>Like George said, if you can space the floor around Banchero, you open up more driving lanes for him to attack the basket. If those new additions <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-orlando-makes-intriguing-move-former-first-round-pick">can pay dividends for the Magic</a> and Banchero can make the internal improvements in his offensive game, it’s easy to see a path where he becomes an All-NBA level player in year three.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paul George gives Magic star Paolo Banchero his flowers before 2024-25 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', '/mavericks-news-luka-doncic-receives-1-word-description-paolo-banchero');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mavericks star Luka Doncic receives 1-word description from Paolo Banchero');   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/2024/09/Paolo-Banchero-has-1-word-description-of-Luka-Doncic.jpg"></figure><h1>Mavericks star Luka Doncic receives 1-word description from Paolo Banchero</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-07T18:09:30-07:00">September 7th, 6:09pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-07T18:09:30-07:00">September 7th, 6:09pm</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic received the perfect compliment from Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero.</p><p>“Gangster,” Banchero said when asked how he would describe Doncic in one word.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I'll say, gangster."<br><br>Paolo Banchero describes Luka Doncic with one word 😅<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/overtime?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@overtime</a>)<a href="https://t.co/okmIMxOeCA">pic.twitter.com/okmIMxOeCA</a></p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1832537178033025537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2024</a></blockquote></figure><p>Banchero isn’t messing around about Doncic. Since entering the league in 2018, he has quite the resume already. A five-time All-NBA selection, in addition to the 2018 Rookie of the Year, Doncic also led the league in scoring during the 2023-24 season (33.9 points per game).</p><p>Although the end of the 2022-23 season resulted in missing the playoffs, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mavs-news-kyrie-irving-warning-nba-luka-doncic-partnership">Kyrie Irving warned about him and Doncic partnering</a> for years. It’s safe to say that the partnership is working smoothly. The following season, the Mavericks made the NBA Finals. Despite losing to the Boston Celtics, Doncic himself had an amazing playoff run. He averaged <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/doncilu01.html" rel="noopener">28.9 points, 9.5 assists and 8.7 rebounds</a> in 40.9 minutes per game. </p><p>The numbers look like something out of a video game, but that’s how Doncic plays. He also led the NBA playoffs in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons in points per game, with 35.7 and 31.7 respectively. The eye-staggering statistics and offensive prowess make Doncic a true “gangster” in the eyes of many in the NBA.</p><h2><b>Has anyone else besides Paolo Banchero complimented Mavericks’ Luka Doncic?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Paolo-Banchero-says-that-Luka-Doncic-is-a-gangster.jpg"><figcaption>© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Both current and former NBA players have paid their respects to the Slovenian superstar, especially former Philadelphia 76ers guard and Hall-of-Famer Allen Iverson. AI previously went on The Big Podcast and raved about <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mavericks-news-luka-doncic-73-points-hawks-jj-redick">Doncic’s 73-point performance</a> against the Atlanta Hawks earlier in the 2023-24 season.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Allen Iverson with some high praise for Luka Doncic 👏 <a href="https://t.co/qel2qrgsKb">pic.twitter.com/qel2qrgsKb</a></p>— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) <a href="https://twitter.com/bigpodwithshaq/status/1760718827271204959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2024</a></blockquote></figure><p>Iverson explained how Doncic’s style is reminiscent of streetball, mixed with being a pro. In addition, Shaquille O’Neal added to Iverson’s point by saying that Doncic has swag when he plays. The behind-the-backboard shots, the crazy ball-handling, and Doncic playing at his exact pace are only a few examples of what the swag he possesses.</p><p>More compliments came during the Mavericks’ NBA Finals run. Jamal Crawford, a three-time sixth man of the year has about as close to a streetball game as it gets. His mix of elite handles, tough shot-making and simply putting his defenders on skates made him one of the best. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mavericks-news-jamal-crawford-drops-ultimate-praise-of-gangster-luka-doncic">Crawford used the same word</a> that Banchero used to describe Doncic: “Gangster.”</p><p>Crawford and Iverson are two of the guys in NBA history that personify the word swag. They know how much of a gangster Doncic is on the basketball court. Irving has also seen Doncic be truly dominant since arriving at the Mavericks. Irving mentioned how his teammate <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mavericks-news-kyrie-irving-luka-doncic-all-star-break">perfects all the flashy and streetball moves</a> every day in practice.</p><p>As the Mavericks look to enter the 2024-25 season, Doncic will look to bring that “gangster” aura once again to a team aiming for another NBA Finals appearance.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mavericks star Luka Doncic receives 1-word description from Paolo Banchero

<!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', '/magic-news-magic-strong-3-word-reaction-paolo-banchero-narrative');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic drops strong 3-word reaction to Paolo Banchero narrative');   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/2024/09/Magic-news-Orlando-drops-strong-3-word-reaction-to-Paolo-Banchero-narrative.jpg"></figure><h1>Magic drops strong 3-word reaction to Paolo Banchero narrative</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-03T18:16:34-07:00">September 3rd, 6:16pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-03T18:16:34-07:00">September 3rd, 6:16pm</time><address><a>Michael Aaron Gomez</a>Michael Aaron Gomez is a creative writer and longtime NBA fan. He has been a fan of the Lakers since the three-peat but believes LeBron James is the greatest player of all time.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Fans will always be fans, no matter the sport, and in the age of social media, discourse and narratives in the NBA have become a cottage industry. Still, not every star receives as much recognition online as other stars, and this might be true for Orlando Magic star and Jordan brand athlete Paolo Banchero. On Tuesday, the Magic account on X, formerly Twitter, chimed in to give Banchero his flowers as a legit star when most fans haven’t.</p><p>The NBA content account Legion Hoops <a href="https://x.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1831086045376491969" rel="noopener">started the discourse</a> by asking, “Name an NBA player that doesn’t get enough recognition. I’ll start: Paolo Banchero.” In response, the Magic’s official account replied, “Yes I agree.”</p><h2><b>Magic rebuilding</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Paolo-Banchero-driving-in-the-lane.jpg"><figcaption>© Ken Blaze-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Paolo Banchero has become a cornerstone for a rebuilding Magic franchise, which last saw the postseason in 2020, but haven’t won a playoff series in 14 years. While the glory days of Dwight Howard are far behind them now, the Magic may have finally found the next star who could lead them to the promised land.</p><p>For instance, the Magic reached the postseason as the fifth seed with a record of 47-35. The inexperienced Magic faced the relatively battle-tested Cleveland Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell, and took them to seven games before eventually losing.</p><p>While eliminations always hurt, the fact that they were able to take a conference contender to the limit should bode well for the future of the franchise. Likewise, that series saw the ascension of Paolo Banchero, who <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/paolo-banchero-2024-playoffs" rel="noopener">averaged</a> 27.0 points and 8.6 rebounds in his first playoff series. He also shot splits of 45.6% from the field and 40.4% from three on 5.7 attempts.</p><p>As the Magic star continues his rise, he has also made the most of his opportunities off the court. Recently, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-reveals-new-logo-jordan-brand">Jordan brand released a new logo for Paolo Banchero</a>, celebrating his entry as a member of the Jordan group, joining Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Zion Williamson.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero is a star</b></h2><p>Moreover, on the court, the Magic has done well by him so far. Their young core of Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs will only get better with more experience and playoff reps. They have such terrific upside that Paul Pierce thinks they can trouble the Celtics the most among the younger Eastern playoff teams.</p><p>In the offseason, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-kentavious-caldwell-pope-leaving-nuggets-for-orlando">Magic also signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</a> to a three-year, $66-million deal. The team hopes the two-time NBA champion’s pedigree and experience will rub off on the young Magic players, though of course KCP’s two-way abilities will also help them stack up wins in a relatively weaker conference.</p><p>Now, the Magic will have to test their progress against contenders like the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-philly-makes-paul-george-splash-free-agency">Philadelphia 76ers with Paul George</a> or the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-news-nets-mikal-bridges-expaned-unqiue-sign-and-trade">New York Knicks with Mikal Bridges</a>. Fans wonder whether Banchero can show he has taken the leap as a star in the NBA by going to battle with the best teams.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic drops strong 3-word reaction to Paolo Banchero narrative

<!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', '/mavericks-news-luka-doncic-insane-soccer-skills-paolo-banchero');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mavericks’ Luka Doncic shows off insane soccer skills with Paolo Banchero');   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/2024/08/Mavericks-news-Luka-Doncic-shows-off-insane-soccer-skills-with-Paolo-Banchero.jpg"></figure><h1>Mavericks’ Luka Doncic shows off insane soccer skills with Paolo Banchero</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-30T19:49:09-07:00">August 30th, 7:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-30T19:49:52-07:00">August 30th, 7:49pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic’s athletic skillset extends beyond the basketball court. Doncic, alongside Orlando Magic All-Star Paolo Banchero, showed off his soccer skills at an overseas event in China when Banchero lobbed a basketball toward Doncic, who <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1829228121213505616" rel="noopener">headed the ball off the backboard before playing keep-up</a> and headed the ball into the hoop.</p><p>The video of the impressive move went viral on X, formerly Twitter.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Luka Doncic showing off his soccer skills in China 🔥<a href="https://t.co/ptEg0RKonV">pic.twitter.com/ptEg0RKonV</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1829228121213505616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Doncic and Banchero are currently touring China as representatives of the Jordan brand. NBA stars like Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum and New Orleans <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-zion-williamson-breakdancing-dunk-sends-fans-into-frenzy">Pelicans’ star Zion Williamson are also on the Jordan tour</a> with Doncic and Banchero.</p><h2>Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks hosted an off-season mini-camp</h2><p>When Luka Doncic reports to the Mavericks training camp next month, his All-Star running mate <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mavericks-news-kyrie-irving-training-camp-injury-update">Kyrie Irving will be available</a> in preparation for the upcoming season. Irving and the Mavs are reportedly <a href="https://x.com/KevinGraySports/status/1828596911332315472" rel="noopener">conducting off-season workouts</a> in Los Angeles, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.</p><p>“Everything I heard about the mini-camp was that the on-court stuff was great, but maybe the off-court stuff was even better, and I could see why that would be kind of the rumble going around about it because it is, you know, it is becoming more common in the NBA,” Stein wrote. “But I don’t know that too many Mavs teams of the past had 15 guys getting together in LA in August. And having some bonding time off the floor. The two players who are not based in the U.S. were not there, but from what I’m told pretty much everyone else was there.”</p><p>Irving, who underwent off-season surgery to repair his broken left hand, was limited throughout Mavs’ mini-camp, but did participate throughout.</p><p>“Kyrie Irving we know in July had the surgery on his left hand. But Kyrie, I’m told, was there throughout. He’s very limited in what he can do,” Stein wrote. “At this point, he’s not been cleared yet for full 5-on-5 hoop. But, basically what I’ve been told is he remains on course to be cleared in time for training camp. So, I don’t thnk there’s any concern there. And of course, it’s in L.A., so Southern California native Klay Thompson is going to be there.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks recently gathered in Los Angeles for offseason workouts- <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheSteinLine</a> reports on what he’s heard about how it all went and updates us on Kyrie’s health and if he’s been cleared for contact all on <a href="https://twitter.com/DLLS_Mavs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DLLS_Mavs</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/DLLS_Sports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DLLS_Sports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MFFL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MFFL</a> <a href="https://t.co/5zDQpJXmjJ">pic.twitter.com/5zDQpJXmjJ</a></p><p>— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinGraySports/status/1828596911332315472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>All in all, it’s an encouraging start to 2024-25 for the Western Conference champions.</p><p>“From everything I was told, a lot of gym time, a lot of bonding activities.</p><p>The Mavs will host the Memphis Grizzlies in their preseason opener on October 7.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mavericks’ Luka Doncic shows off insane soccer skills with Paolo Banchero

<!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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-reveals-new-logo-jordan-brand');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero reveals new logo with Jordan Brand');   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/2024/08/0-Paolo-Banchero-reveals-new-logo-with-Jordan-Brand-0.jpg"></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero reveals new logo with Jordan Brand</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-30T07:37:04-07:00">August 30th, 7:37am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-30T07:37:04-07:00">August 30th, 7:37am</time><address><a>Derek Hryn</a>Derek Hryn is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints specializing in NFL and NCAA Football coverage. Derek was previously a fantasy football expert at DK and SB Nation, and he has been featured at FanSided, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic big man <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-mvp-aspirations-first-all-star-playoff-experience">Paolo Banchero’s path to superstardom</a> is looking even brighter this NBA offseason. The 21-year-old power forward took to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday to <a href="https://x.com/HunchoHoops/status/1829156415652671565" rel="noopener">‘unveil’ his new logo as a member of Jordan Brand</a>.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Paolo Banchero unveils his new “P5” Logo with Jordan Brand <a href="https://t.co/lIN3kfXpIh">https://t.co/lIN3kfXpIh</a> <a href="https://t.co/EnTfnqGDeq">pic.twitter.com/EnTfnqGDeq</a></p><p>— Huncho Hoops (@HunchoHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/HunchoHoops/status/1829156415652671565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Banchero and fellow JB NBA stars Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson are currently on an international tour in genuine <a href="https://about.nike.com/en/newsroom/releases/jordan-brand-athletes-2024-china-tour" rel="noopener">efforts for ‘basketball expansion’ and ‘international growth.</a>‘ Their stops include Jordan World of Flight Beijing Sanlitun, the Next Stop Dongdan streetball tournament finals, youth basketball camps and iconic landmarks including the Great Wall of China.</p><p>As the Magic continue to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-bold-predictions-nba-future">build on their young dynasty</a>, Banchero has become the key cornerstone of the future. He’s coming off his second consecutive 20-PPG season, with a 2022-23 Rookie of the Year honor and 2023-24 All-Star selection already under his belt. He turns 22 in November and presents arguably the highest ceiling of any of the aforementioned NBA athletes. He has been relatively low-key to this point in regards to Jordan, and throwing himself into the public eye as a member of the JB family. In April, he <a href="https://thesource.com/2024/04/22/source-sports-paolo-banchero-debuts-air-jordan-39-during-game-1-of-playoffs/" rel="noopener">debuted Air Jordan 39’s</a> prior to Game 1 of his first NBA Playoffs in April.</p><p>“It’s an honor to represent the Jordan family in wearing the Air Jordan 39s for our first playoff series of my career,” said Banchero. “MJ’s legacy is rooted in historic playoff performances, and to have the opportunity to honor that in unveiling the 39’s is truly special for me.”</p><h2>Paolo Banchero is reshaping Jordan brand, as well as the Magic</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Paolo-Banchero-with-the-Magic.jpg"><figcaption>Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The brand will expectedly market Banchero much more frequently, as his popularity continues to soar. And this is the true origin of his “P5” logo, and a brief flash of how great it will soon become, and be seen across the basketball landscape.</p><p>In 2024, the Magic made their first playoff appearance in four seasons. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paul-pierces-eye-opening-view-of-orlandos-young-core">Banchero has led Orlando’s “young core”</a> and displayed exceptional poise and leadership qualities that have grown less common from a two-year pro.</p><p>Following a 47-35 season, and a Round 1 exit as a fifth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Magic have quickly become one of the league’s most exciting franchises to watch. Banchero is just getting started, and the former No. 1 overall pick will have them legitimately competing for an NBA Finals in the 2024-25 season. There hasn’t been any indication to think otherwise.</p><p>It’ll be interesting to see how the Jumpman lineup of Tatum, Williamson, and Doncic is viewed after Banchero plays his third year.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Paolo Banchero reveals new logo with Jordan Brand

<!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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-bold-predictions-nba-future');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero gazes into crystal ball with bold predictions on NBA future');   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/2024/08/Magic-news-Paolo-Banchero-gazes-into-crystal-ball-with-bold-predictions-on-NBA-future.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero gazes into crystal ball with bold predictions on NBA future</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-21T18:08:46-07:00">August 21st, 6:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-21T18:08:46-07:00">August 21st, 6:08pm</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>Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero, known for his goal-oriented approach, has set high expectations for his NBA career and the <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1826261949413466586" rel="noopener">trajectory of his team over the next five years</a>. Speaking at the recent Fanatics Fan Fest in New York City, the Magic’s 2022 No. 1 overall draft pick shared his vision for becoming a central figure in the league.</p><p>The event, which featured a panel including NBA legend ‘Dr. J’ Julius Erving, sneaker creation expert Dom “The Surgeon” Chambrone, and former NBA player Jay Williams, provided a platform for Banchero to outline his aspirations. Williams prompted Banchero to forecast his standing in the league five years down the line, to which Banchero responded with resounding confidence, initially declaring “NBA Champ” before being interrupted by enthusiastic cheers. He added, “Hopefully, an MVP, and one of the faces of the league. Faces of basketball of the new generation.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“NBA Champ, hopefully MVP, and one of the faces of the league, Faces of basketball of the new generation.”</p><p>Magic star Paolo Banchero on where he sees himself 5 years from now 🗣️<a href="https://t.co/bzyOo6Dagi">pic.twitter.com/bzyOo6Dagi</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1826261949413466586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Paolo Banchero fuels Magic’s ascent with bold predictions for NBA future</b></h2><p>Banchero backs his bold declarations with a proven track record of envisioning and achieving his goals, a trait that has defined his career. His proactive mindset drives his personal progress and shapes his expectations for the Magic’s success.</p><p>Over the past two seasons, Banchero’s presence on the Magic roster has contributed to a steady, albeit challenging, growth for the team. Following a successful 47-win campaign last year, Orlando clinched the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Despite their efforts, the team was ousted in the first round after a grueling seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.</p><p>Reflecting on the team’s recent performances and the synergy of offseason acquisitions with another year of experience, Banchero is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-sets-lofty-expectations-for-2024-25-season">optimistic about the Magic’s prospects</a>. “Man, we feel like we’re right there,” Banchero stated last week. “We’re right there with all those teams. I remember last year we started the year off as a top-two, top-three seed, and everybody thought it was a fluke. Everybody thought we were going to be a play-in team and drop out of the top of the East, but we finished strong… We were right there last year and we got better. I got better.”</p><h2><b>Orlando Magic’s shift to contenders in the Eastern Conference</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Orlando-Magic-forward-Paolo-Banchero-5-celebrates-with-Orlando-Magic-forward-Franz-Wagner-22-in-the-fourth-quarter-against-the-Toronto-Raptors-at-KIA-Center.jpg"><figcaption>© Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The team’s growing confidence actively shifts their identity from underdogs to legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference. As they continue to build momentum, this newfound belief drives their transformation and solidifies their position among the top teams in the conference.</p><p>Paolo Banchero continues to develop his game and solidify his leadership role, both on and off the court, positioning the Orlando Magic to fully capitalize on his ambitions. As Banchero aims for not only team success but also personal milestones like an MVP award and potentially an NBA championship, the Magic actively harness his drive and determination. This combination of individual and collective focus sets a promising trajectory for both Banchero and the team, suggesting a bright future where they emerge as key contenders in the league.</p><p>His vision, characterized by the same determination and foresight that have marked his early achievements, suggests that Banchero is not merely hoping for success — he is planning for it. As the Magic look to build around their young cornerstone, the league might just be witnessing the rise of its next major star and a potential powerhouse in the making.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Paolo Banchero gazes into crystal ball with bold predictions on NBA future

<!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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-sets-lofty-expectations-for-2024-25-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero sets lofty expectations for Magic’s 2024-25 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/2024/08/Magic-news-Paolo-Banchero-sets-lofty-expectations-for-2024-25-season.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero sets lofty expectations for Magic’s 2024-25 season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-16T10:31:50-07:00">August 16th, 10:31am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-16T10:31:50-07:00">August 16th, 10:31am</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>After a standout performance last season, Paolo Banchero has set ambitious goals for the Orlando Magic as they prepare for the 2024-25 NBA campaign, aiming to establish the team as a premier contender in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>Last year, the Magic, led by Banchero, secured 47 wins, earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Their playoff journey extended to a gripping seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, narrowly missing advancement to the second round.</p><p>Now in his third season, Banchero, a first overall pick turned All-Star forward, expressed his expectations for the team on ESPN’s “First Take.” Reflecting on last season, he noted the team’s resilience and the external skepticism that doubted their ability to sustain their strong start, anticipating them to fall into Play-In status.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Paolo Banchero on <a href="https://twitter.com/FirstTake?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FirstTake</a>: “We’re tryna make some noise. I think we should easily be a top four, top three team and have a chance to win the East”. Banchero added that the team feels like “we’re right there” and that they individually got better this offseason <a href="https://t.co/E64gWdw33r">pic.twitter.com/E64gWdw33r</a></p><p>— Fawzan Amer (@FawzanAmer_) <a href="https://twitter.com/FawzanAmer_/status/1824460776389648513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Paolo Banchero expects the Magic to contend in the 2024-25 NBA season</b></h2><p>Looking ahead, Banchero stated, “We’re trying to make some noise. I think we should easily be a top four, top three team and have a chance to win the East.” He emphasized his belief in the team’s elite status, saying, “We’re right there,” and acknowledged that the Magic have enhanced their roster during the offseason.</p><p>Expressing his gratitude to Orlando for selecting him first in the draft, Banchero said, “I’ll always give them my respect and my love for that,” and highlighted his commitment to driving the team to new heights.</p><p>In <a href="https://x.com/fawzanamer_/status/1824463862847963621?s=46&amp;t=zbZh6HTk7I35gAbTbGAAaA" rel="noopener">discussing the team’s trajectory</a>, he pointed out, “My first year was an up and down struggle, but we improved. Last year, we made the playoffs and made a huge jump. So we’re trying to do that next year and just keep taking it one level at a time but we don’t want to stop anytime soon. We want to keep going and eventually win championships.”</p><h2><b>Orlando bolsters roster with key signings and draft picks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Orlando-Magic-forward-Paolo-Banchero-5-reacts-to-a-play-against-New-Orleans-Pelicans-forward-Herbert-Jones-5-during-the-first-half-at-Smoothie-King-Center.jpg"><figcaption>© Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>In a bid to build a more robust team around Paolo Banchero, the Orlando Magic have made significant moves in the offseason. They signed veteran sharpshooter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-kentavious-caldwell-pope-leaving-nuggets-for-orlando">bringing a proven scorer and defender</a> who can contribute significantly on both ends of the court. Additionally, Orlando welcomed Tristan Da Silva through the draft, a young talent expected to add depth and versatility to their frontcourt.</p><p>These strategic additions are part of a broader plan to support Banchero’s vision of pushing the Magic into the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference. By maintaining their core group and integrating new, impactful players, the Magic are clearly focused on crafting a squad capable of contending for championships.</p><p>As the new season draws near, expectations are mounting for Banchero and the Orlando Magic to outdo last year’s performance and deliver on their promise of becoming a dominant force in the East. With a combination of young prospects and experienced veterans, the Magic are positioning themselves for a significant impact in the upcoming NBA season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero sets lofty expectations for Magic’s 2024-25 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-news-chris-paul-isaiah-thomas-workout-paolo-banchero-sparks-buzz');   ga('set', 'title', 'Chris Paul, Isaiah Thomas workout with Magic’s Paolo Banchero sparks buzz');   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/2024/07/NBA-news-Chris-Paul-Isaiah-Thomas-workout-with-Paolo-Banchero-sparks-buzz.jpg"></figure><h1>Chris Paul, Isaiah Thomas workout with Magic’s Paolo Banchero sparks buzz</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-07-02T22:07:42-07:00">July 2nd, 10:07pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-07-02T22:07:42-07:00">July 2nd, 10:07pm</time><address><a href="https://nextmanupblog.medium.com/">Jay Postrado</a>Jay Postrado is a sports writer for ClutchPoints, with expertise in covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, Tennis, and Formula 1. He is a lifelong motorsports and tennis fan. Jay's need for speed may no longer be on the grid or courts but has stayed with him through writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic are up next when it comes to title contention. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-mvp-aspirations-first-all-star-playoff-experience">Paolo Banchero is in the middle</a> of all of this and it looks like he’s ready to take the next step. This NBA offseason, the one-time All-Star is training with generational talents who paved the road for him. Who might these people be, you ask? One of them is trying to make it back to the league while another is  It’s none other than Chris Paul and Isaiah Thomas.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chris Paul, Paolo Banchero, and Isaiah Thomas putting in work at Elite Camp in Las Vegas today 👀</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA</a>)<a href="https://t.co/xKG3021R18">pic.twitter.com/xKG3021R18</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1808303377975005645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Paolo Banchero along with Chris Paul and Isaiah Thomas are headlining the Elite Camp in Las Vegas. All three of them have different hopes to achieve in this camp. For the Magic star, he needs to get into All-Star form as early as the offseason such that he can impact his team’s entry in the win column. Moreover, Banchero has already shown his capability in leading the Magic but moving to an All-NBA level is just different.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/spurs-news-crazy-chris-paul-stat-will-fire-up-fans">Chris Paul, on the other hand, is trying</a> to get his edge back. The San Antonio Spurs guard has to be ready to catch up to the pace that Gregg Popovich and Victor Wembanyama play. While he is still elite at dropping dimes, his old age needs to be remedied by extra conditioning in the NBA Offseason.</p><p>The other person headlining this star-studded camp was Isaiah Thomas. This former Most Valuable Player candidate is looking for another shot at getting back into the league. He had stints with the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Dallas Mavericks but just could not quite land a permanent rotation spot. Now, he is using the NBA Offseason to prove his worth to these front offices. After all, he can still put up buckets and facilitate offenses despite his age.</p><h2><b>Fans go rabid for the Magic star with Chris Paul and Isaiah Thomas</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Orlando-Magic-forward-Paolo-Banchero-5-drives-to-the-basket.jpg"><figcaption>© Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Everyone is invested in how these three big names are going to venture into the next season. A lot of them had <a href="https://x.com/FawzanAmer_/status/1808317711883121047" rel="noopener">nothing but praise</a> for the way they were handling themselves throughout the NBA Offseason.</p><p>“Paolo Banchero posted his personal highlights from his run at the Elite Camp. Each clip showcases his array of versatility in scoring the ball. From pound dribbles to score inside, operating as the screener in PnRs to his patented fadeaway jumper,” an avid spectator said about the Magic star.</p><p>Chris Paul even got <a href="https://x.com/TheSherrickCut/status/1808324486686511546" rel="noopener">a huge declaration</a> from a fan, “I think CP3 averages 14.5/9.3/3.9/1.3 next season with the Spurs! Making it easy on Wemby, instilling leadership qualities in him, getting him easier buckets, and learning how to lead a team. Wemby has the talent &amp; motor &amp; skills, it’s about to get scary for the league lol.”</p><p>Others were also advocating for Thomas to <a href="https://x.com/MattyiceDj/status/1808360118557262089" rel="noopener">get a new deal</a>, “@cavs, we need depth at point guard. Why not sign @JohnWall and @isaiahthomas to a 3-year option for 15 million makes a lot of sense. Come on Kenny make this happen.”</p><p>Hopefully, all of these stars get what they want off the camp whether it’s momentum for an All-NBA nod or a new contract in the league.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Chris Paul, Isaiah Thomas workout with Magic’s Paolo Banchero sparks buzz

<!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', '/clippers-news-paul-george-makes-attention-grabbing-paolo-banchero-prediction');   ga('set', 'title', 'Clippers’ Paul George makes attention-grabbing Paolo Banchero prediction');   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/2024/06/Clippers-news-Paul-George-makes-attention-grabbing-Paolo-Banchero-prediction.jpg"></figure><h1>Clippers’ Paul George makes attention-grabbing Paolo Banchero prediction</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-29T17:42:22-07:00">June 29th, 5:42pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-29T17:42:22-07:00">June 29th, 5:42pm</time><address><a>Christopher Smith</a>Christopher Smith is an associate editor covering a variety of sports with a beat focus on the Chicago Sky for ClutchPoints. The Aurora, Illinois native earned a degree in philosophy from Creighton University, where he also competed as a Division 1 Cross Country runner.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George headlines what should be an interesting 2024 NBA free agency period. News broke that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/clippers-news-paul-george-makes-48-8-million-decision-with-free-agency-around-corner">George opted out</a> of his $48.8 million player option with the Clippers on Saturday. Thus, he can sign with any team willing to give him an offer of his liking. One team George is rumored to have discourse with is the Orlando Magic. Moreover, George made an attention-grabbing Paolo Banchero prediction on an episode of his podcast.</p><h2><b>Paul George stirs Banchero, Magic buzz before NBA free agency</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Clippers-Paul-George-shoots-against-Magics-Paolo-Banchero.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>George praised Banchero amid his rapid ascent to stardom.</p><p>“I think who’s<a href="https://x.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1807198058016358696/photo/1" rel="noopener"> shown that they’re read</a>y for that next jump [and] I think was a star [was] for sure Paolo,” George previously said on Podcast P, per Alex Kennedy. “He was a grown man. You’ve got to put shooters around him because his game is such a transition-[based game] and he’s a force. He’s great in transition, great in isolations, great at sizing dudes up and using his strength to get by and blow by.”</p><p>Furthermore, George was impressed with the way Banchero and the Magic competed during the 2023-24 season.</p><p>“Orlando surprised me. They’re another young team [with] not a lot of expectations. When the young guys separate themselves and they look promising to lead an organization, that’s one of the best things you can find. It’s the most beautiful about his game,” George added. “When you see that the game is going to be in good hands when these young guys figure out that this is [their] time, I think that’s what Paolo did and that’s what he’s doing in Orlando. Orlando definitely surprised me.”</p><p>The Magic finished the 2023-24 season with a 47-35 record and made the NBA Playoffs as a sixth seed. They impressively took the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games before their final defeat. Paolo Banchero elevated his game to another level during the playoffs. After averaging 22.0 points per game during the regular season, Banchero lept to 27.0 per contest against the Cavs.</p><p>The young Magic team has the favor of Paul George. Will the veteran forward end up in Orlando by the end of the 2024 NBA free agency period?</p><h2><b>Will Paul George leave the Clippers?</b></h2><p>Analysts speculated for months <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/warriors-trade-proposal-lands-clippers-star-paul-george">how George would handle</a> his impending free agency. He and the Clippers could not agree to a contract extension during the regular season. Thus, it was believed he would depart the team during the following summer. Nevertheless, George <a href="https://x.com/wojespn/status/1807190198746337545?s=46&amp;t=PzubCAbCGFLj0KDaYNa_PQ" rel="noopener">still plans to meet with</a> the Clippers along with the Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.</p><p>George previously stated that the “right style of basketball” was one of his priorities approaching free agency. Could his Paolo Banchero and Magic praise signal he likes the style they play with?</p><p>It would be hard to imagine George leaving Kawhi Leonard behind. Yet, the Clippers will have a plan to replace George’s production if he leaves. The 34-year-old averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game during the regular season. George’s final free agency destination will come to light after the period starts on June 30th.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Clippers’ Paul George makes attention-grabbing Paolo Banchero prediction

<!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', '/magic-news-paolo-bancheros-respons-fans-jab-using-caitlin-clark');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic star Paolo Banchero’s response to fan’s jab using Caitlin Clark');   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/2024/05/Paolo-Bancheros-response-to-fans-jab-using-Caitlin-Clark.jpg"></figure><h1>Magic star Paolo Banchero’s response to fan’s jab using Caitlin Clark</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-22T10:53:48-07:00">May 22nd, 10:53am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-23T11:53:44-07:00">May 23rd, 11:53am</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University senior from Atlanta on track to graduate with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic are currently in the midst of what figures to be a highly important offseason for the future direction of their franchise following their crushing seven game series loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference playoffs. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-mvp-aspirations-first-all-star-playoff-experience">Banchero overall played</a> very well in his first foray into the NBA postseason, but as a whole, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-paolo-bancheros-comments-show-magic-interested-dangelo-russell">Magic’s lack of</a> perimeter offense and three-point shooting spelled their downfall against a much more experienced Cleveland team, who went on to lose to the Boston Celtics in five games.</p><p>One common criticism about the <a href="https://x.com/Pp_doesit/status/1793086812476576188" rel="noopener">national media’s coverage</a> of the Magic this year was the team’s lack of nationally televised games, especially considering the talent of the former number one overall pick in Banchero alongside a host of other youngsters including Franz Wagner.</p><p>In fact, recently, a fan took a not-so-subtle jab at Banchero on X, the social media platform formerly referred to as Twitter, referencing the rapid rise to stardom of WNBA Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and juxtaposing it to the Magic’s more low-profile nature thus far.</p><p>“Caitlyn Clark already has more games on ESPN than Paolo Banchero lmao,” wrote the user.</p><p>Banchero responded with a graceful reply on his own account on the platform.</p><p>“rightfully so! my time coming,” wrote Banchero.</p><p>Even in the postseason, the Magic felt the disrespect of the national media, as their series vs the Cavaliers was largely dubbed as the “NBA TV series.” In that matchup, Games 2, 3, and 5 were all carried exclusively on NBA TV, meaning that a large portion of the basketball watching country did not have any access to them at all. In any case, it seems that Banchero has taken the perceived disrespect in stride and is ready to continue to generate a higher profile for his team over the coming years.</p><h2><b>Where do the Magic go from here?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Paolo-Banchero-after-Game-7.jpg"><figcaption>Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>In a vacuum, there is a whole lot to be excited about as it pertains to the future of the Magic. Banchero is still just 21 years old and made his first All-Star team this year, and also proved that he is more than capable of rising to the occasion in the NBA playoffs, even though his teammates for the most part did not (Wagner had one of the worst shooting games in NBA playoffs history in Game 7).</p><p>However, there are still some clear flaws on this roster, mostly regarding its guard depth and perimeter shooting. In this offseason, Orlando figures to be key players for talented guards and perimeter shooters such as Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors and D’Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers, each of whom could potentially be free agents this summer.</p><p>Acquiring one of these two stars would help alleviate some of the pressure from Banchero and also provide a veteran presence for a Magic team that showed its youth at multiple points of the Cleveland series.</p><p>In any case, expect the Magic to have a few more nationally televised games next season after their upstart 2023-24 campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic star Paolo Banchero’s response to fan’s jab using Caitlin Clark

<!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-rumors-paolo-bancheros-comments-show-magic-interested-dangelo-russell');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Paolo Banchero’s comments show why Magic are interested in D’Angelo Russell');   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/2024/05/Paolo-Bancheros-comments-show-why-Magic-are-interested-in-DAngelo-Russell.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Paolo Banchero’s comments show why Magic are interested in D’Angelo Russell</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-21T12:08:50-07:00">May 21st, 12:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-21T12:08:50-07:00">May 21st, 12:08pm</time><address><a>Owen Crisafulli</a>Owen Crisafulli is a Senior Editor and NFL Lead at ClutchPoints. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from Nichols College. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management and for a while ran his own sports website. Sports are his passion, and he thoroughly enjoys writing about thoughts and opinions that are related to the game. He has been a lifelong fan of the major professional teams in Boston and loves discussing all topics surrounding those teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic took a huge step forward in the 2023-24 campaign, thanks in large part to the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-mvp-aspirations-first-all-star-playoff-experience">growth</a> of star forward Paolo Banchero. After bowing out of the playoffs after losing their first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games, though, the front office has some clear areas of need that they will be looking to address over the next few months.</p><p>Easily the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-orlando-betting-favorite-brandon-ingrams-next-team-not-pelicans">biggest need</a> on the Magic’s roster is three-point shooting, as they shot just 35.2 percent from behind the arc, which was the lowest among teams that qualified for the playoffs. Finding a combo guard who can move the ball and shoot the three at a high rate is precisely what Orlando needs this offseason, and with the team reportedly locking in on D’Angelo Russell as a potential target, some <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5507812/2024/05/21/rockets-nba-draft-no-3-pick-donovan-mitchell/?source=emp_shared_article" rel="noopener">recent comments</a> from Banchero help show why they are interested in bringing him on board should he hit the open market.</p><p>“There is a clear need for an overhaul in the shooting department, and Orlando could benefit from adding guards with playmaking and floor-spacing capabilities. ‘… Having a guy who can set the table and be reliable,’ Magic star Paolo Banchero told The Washington Post recently. ‘We have a lot of talented guys who can make shots and make plays: me, Franz (Wagner) and Jalen Suggs. I would rather be more of an offensive hub than the point guard if that makes sense.’”</p><p>“Orlando is interested in Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, league sources tell The Athletic. Russell has an $18.7 million player option for the 2024-25 season he can opt out of if he chooses to test the open market.” – Kelly Iko, The Athletic</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero highlights D’Angelo Russell’s fit with Magic</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DAngelo-Russell-of-the-Lakers.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>While his struggles in the postseason with the Los Angeles Lakers will likely leave a bad taste in the mouths of many fans, Russell put together a strong body of work with LA in the regular season (18 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.1 RPG, 45.6 FG%). Beyond that, he also shot a career-high 41.5 percent from behind the arc, so his ability to find his teammates for open looks, while also knocking down threes at a high clip, is precisely what Orlando is looking for.</p><p>Russell isn’t a lock to hit the open market, as he has a player option in his deal that he could opt into, but if there are other teams interested in him, he’d probably be better off testing free agency and seeing if he could earn a bigger new deal from a different team. Chances are if Russell opts out of his deal, he won’t be returning to the Lakers.</p><p>There will be other guys the Magic can target if Russell doesn’t hit the open market, but he seems like a strong first option for them to target. Banchero seemed to have someone like Russell in mind when discussing what Orlando needs this offseason, so now it will be on the front office to go out and deliver by bringing in players who can help the Magic build off of their strong campaign.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Paolo Banchero’s comments show why Magic are interested in D’Angelo Russell

<!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', '/magic-news-paolo-banchero-mvp-aspirations-first-all-star-playoff-experience');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero sets lofty MVP aspirations after first All-Star, playoff experience');   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/2024/05/Magic-news-Paolo-Banchero-sets-lofty-MVP-aspirations-after-first-All-Star-playoff-experience.jpg"></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero sets lofty MVP aspirations after first All-Star, playoff experience</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-17T11:43:10-07:00">May 17th, 11:43am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-17T11:44:19-07:00">May 17th, 11:44am</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A loss in the first round of the playoffs is by no means a disappointment for the Orlando Magic. The 2023-24 season marked the first time that the Magic made the playoffs since 2020, and they did so with Paolo Banchero as their superstar talent. One year removed from claiming the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year award, Banchero found new ways to elevate his play in order to ensure the success of his team. Now, after making his first playoff appearance of his career and also being named an All-Star for the first time in his second season, Banchero is ready to turn his attention to the league’s MVP award.</p><p>The NBA is in a great place. With aging superstars such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant nearing the end of their respective careers, a new age of stars has been born with the likes of Anthony Edwards, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, all of which are still competing in the playoffs. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-cavs-donovan-mitchell-issues-paolo-banchero-warning-nba-after-playoff-battle">Banchero finds himself</a> on this list of the new generation finding their way to stardom, and his high aspirations entering Year 3 shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone.</p><p>Confidence oozes from Banchero every time he steps foot on the court. This is a trait that has helped the Magic unlock their full potential as a team. At 21 years old, Banchero knows he can <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/05/16/paolo-banchero-young-nba-stars/" rel="noopener">compete</a> for the MVP award, especially after his experiences both in the NBA and with Team USA at last year’s FIBA World Cup.</p><p>“MVP is the award you dream about. I don’t think it’s unrealistic for me to get there at some point,” Banchero told Ben Golliver of The Washington Post. “I’m trying to be the complete player. I’m not there yet. But that’s my vision for myself: A guy who doesn’t have any weaknesses on either side of the floor and who can go out there and do everything. Once I got drafted, all that was on my mind was being the best rookie. I kind of got anxious heading into my second year [because] I was back along with everybody else and part of the field.</p><p>“My mission is to be the best in the league.”</p><p>The biggest growth in Banchero’s game from his rookie year to his second season was in his playmaking skills and instincts. Every great superstar in the NBA is able to elevate those around him, and many of the recent players who were named MVP find themselves as some of the best all-around offensive talents. Between his scoring and facilitating abilities, Banchero is well on his way to entering the MVP sweepstakes.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero’s stellar second season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Paolo-Banchero.jpg"><figcaption>Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>After playing in 72 games as a rookie, Banchero played in a total of 80 games for the Magic this season. He averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor. Banchero achieved all of this by averaging exactly 35 minutes per game, just one of 20 total players to average at least 35 minutes this season.</p><p>While he obviously became a better one-on-one scorer, the improvements made to Banchero’s ability to be his team’s primary ball handler and facilitator next to Franz Wagner are what really stood out during his All-Star second season.</p><p>Banchero increased his assist average by nearly 50 percent this season. His usage rate increased from 27.5 percent to 29.7 percent. There was a clear emphasis put on Banchero improving his offensive repertoire this season, and head coach <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-gets-special-praise-from-coach-despite-game-7-collapse">Jamahl Mosley got the most</a> out of his growing star.</p><p>“Special. There’s a reason why he’s an All-Star. There’s a reason why he’ll be All-NBA,” Mosley said after the Magic’s Game 7 loss in the playoffs to the Cleveland Cavaliers. “In big moments, he never shies away from them. Never back down. He wanted every ounce of whatever they were throwing at him.”</p><p>As the Magic begin the offseason, they don’t have to worry about other teams losing their stars or searching for the focal point of their franchise. Banchero has already established himself as an All-Star in just his second season, and he is now aiming for even higher achievements.</p><p>In time, he certainly has the capability and long-term potential to work his way into the MVP conversation. Banchero has already made a ton of history with the Magic, and if he is able to one day claim the MVP award, he would be the first player in franchise history to do so.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Paolo Banchero sets lofty MVP aspirations after first All-Star, playoff experience

<!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', '/magic-news-trae-young-nba-world-react-paolo-banchero-orlandos-game-7-loss-cavs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Trae Young, NBA world react to Paolo Banchero, Magic’s Game 7 loss to Cavs');   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/2024/05/Trae-Young-NBA-world-react-to-Paolo-Banchero-Orlandos-Game-7-loss-to-Cavs.jpg"></figure><h1>Trae Young, NBA world react to Paolo Banchero, Magic’s Game 7 loss to Cavs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-05T20:32:56-07:00">May 5th, 8:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-05T21:07:11-07:00">May 5th, 9:07pm</time><address><a>Brian Buyawe</a>Brian Buyawe is a sports aficionado with a passion for basketball, football, and Formula One. His hobbies include running, reading and playing in recreational leagues. Back when he was a kid, Brian stumbled upon an old Larry Bird documentary among his family's collection of movies, which made him a lifelong Celtics fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic may have ended their season on Sunday, but one player left a lasting impression on those who tuned in. Paolo Banchero, the squad’s young sophomore, finished his campaign with a monster double-double of 38 points and 16 rebounds. This drew a variety of reactions from the basketball world, all of whom praised the forward.</p><p>NBA guards Trae Young and Isaiah Thomas couldn’t help <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTraeYoung/status/1787177188548092290" rel="noopener">but show admiration</a> for Banchero.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mannn I love Paolo game!</p><p>— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTraeYoung/status/1787177188548092290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Paolo is special!!</p><p>— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) <a href="https://twitter.com/isaiahthomas/status/1787185185248940258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Even former players decided to give Banchero his flowers. Damien Wilkins, who played in the league for 10 seasons, claimed that “Banchero doesn’t get talked about enough.”</p><p>Kendrick Perkins also chimed in, commending the Magic and saying that the team has “one” in their rising star.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Banchero doesn’t get talked about enough</p><p>— Damien Wilkins (@dwilkins3000) <a href="https://twitter.com/dwilkins3000/status/1787186434077573379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shoutout to the Orlando Magic for an outstanding season!!!! Btw they have them ONE in Banchero. Real Talk <a href="https://t.co/uNYKKzRkOM">pic.twitter.com/uNYKKzRkOM</a></p><p>— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/KendrickPerkins/status/1787209081205162445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Of course, there was bound to be praise from Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley. Following the Game 7 loss, Mosley <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1787217482270314526" rel="noopener">labeled his franchise player</a> as “special.”</p><p>“(He’s) special,” Mosley said, per ClutchPoints via the Magic X account. “There’s a reason why he’s an All-Star, there’s a reason why he’ll be All-NBA. Big moments, he never shies away from ’em. (He) never backed down, (he) wanted every ounce of whatever they were throwing at him.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Special. There’s a reason why he’s an [All-Star and All-NBA]… [In] big moments, he never shies away from [them]. Never back down.”</p><p>Jamahl Mosley on Paolo Banchero’s Game 7 performance against the Cavs despite the loss 🙌</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OrlandoMagic</a>)<a href="https://t.co/MSo3Ormuay">pic.twitter.com/MSo3Ormuay</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1787217482270314526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>This season, Banchero averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, ending the Magic’s three-year playoff drought. In the seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 21-year-old elevated his play by tallying 27 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists a game.</p><p>Sunday also cemented <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-paolo-banchero-joins-exclusive-lebron-james-company-in-game-7-loss-to-cavs">Banchero as the player</a> with the most first-half points (24 points) in a Game 7 by anyone aged 21 or younger.</p><h2><b>The Magic end their campaign with a heartbreaking loss</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Paolo-Banchero-drives-against-Isaac-Okoro.jpg"><figcaption>© Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Regardless of the praise, Banchero would have surely wanted to take home his first playoff series. However, that’ll have to wait, since Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers had their way on Sunday.</p><p>During the first half, it seemed like the game was over with, as the Magic amassed an 18-point lead. It would all come crashing down, unfortunately. By halftime, their cushion was reduced to 10 points. And in the third quarter, the momentum fully shifted.</p><p>The Cavs outscored the Magic 33-15, and once the final 12 minutes ensued, Orlando found themselves down by eight. They would not catch up, as Cleveland managed to keep their distance until the final buzzer.</p><p>While Paolo Banchero played the game of his life, his supporting cast was relatively quiet. The second-highest scorer was Wendell Carter Jr., who tallied 13 points. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-wagner-gets-brutally-honest-on-game-7-performance-in-loss-to-cavs">Franz Wagner and</a> Jalen Suggs combined for just 3-of-28 shooting from the field.</p><p>Nevertheless, this season was a major improvement compared to previous ones. The Magic managed to finish their regular season as the fifth seed with Banchero at the helm. The last time the team played a seven-game series, Dwight Howard was still the face of the franchise. And speaking of Superman, he also posted a tweet that showed love for his former team.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Still proud the Magic fought to the end💯</p><p>— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) <a href="https://twitter.com/DwightHoward/status/1787209154555253226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>It may be over for now, but the Magic have a bright future ahead of them. The team has an average age of 24.3 years, so one can arguably expect that they’ll be back for another promising run next season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2023-24 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
22.6	6.9	5.4	0.6	0.9

2023-24 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
22.6	6.9	5.4	0.6	0.9

Paolo Banchero news

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