Orlando Magic FIBA Experience Helpful Going Into Season

Entering the NBA's regular season, multiple Orlando Magic players could already be in mid-season form thanks to the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

ORLANDO - With the NBA season is set to tip off in about two weeks, and Orlando Magic fans should expect their team to start fast this season following multiple players getting reps in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Over the offseason, Goga Bitadze (Georgia), Paolo Banchero (USA), Moe & Franz Wagner (Germany), and Joe Ingles (Australia) all participated in the international contest and had some thoughts on the importance of their experiences.

"I think for me, personally, it's always good to have those game reps under your belt instead of just playing pickup," Ingles said. "It's good to get up and down."

At 36 years old, Ingles is expected to come in and provide a veteran presence on this young Magic team after signing with them in free agency. Ingles is also expected to help the team with spacing, and based on his career shooting average of over 40 percent from three-point range.

One player who should benefit most from the shooting of Ingles is Banchero, the reigning Rookie of the Year who was dominant in the paint but struggled from long range.

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner will carry international experience from the FIBA World Cup into the Orlando Magic locker room.  / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

"Being the youngest on the team, I think I was able to be very vocal, especially in kind of the role I was able to kind of help with some other guys told them what I saw from the bench and know what I saw on film," Banchero said.

As Banchero enters his second season, having vocal experience on the USA FIBA roster could pay dividends as he helps establish Orlando's culture and sets a standard as a leader going forward.

The player who perhaps thrived the most in the FIBA Tournament was Franz Wagner, who walked away with a Finals MVP trophy and some valuable experience in meaningful games.

"Those close games and those important games, not everything is gonna go your way whether it's referees or shots aren't falling and stuff like that. But I think we did a great job of, you know, sticking together and coming out of those moments strong, and I think that's a really cool lesson for me," Wagner said.

Hopefully, the lessons that each Magic player learned in the offseason show themselves, especially those of Wagner, as Orlando attempts to make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.