Orlando Magic All-Star Paolo Banchero: Team MVP?

Though not many of the Orlando Magic's players are likely to win awards this season, they still deserve recognition.

Mar 29, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) reacts after scoring / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic has surprised a lot of people this season, and a lot of it is due to the fantastic play of first-time All-Star Paolo Banchero.

In a recent article by Bleacher Report, he gives awards to a couple players on every NBA team. And for the Magic, he gives the Most Valuable Player Award to Banchero because of his leadership of this very young team.

"An All-Star for the first time, Banchero's solid step forward as an offensive player might not be getting the credit it deserves because the Orlando Magic are so defined by their play on defense," Bleacher Report writes. "After falling just short of the modest 30.0 percent mark from deep as a rookie, Banchero is hitting a respectable 35.1 percent of his triples now. Combined with an uptick in his assist numbers from 3.7 to 5.3 per contest, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick is rounding into form as a multi-pronged threat."

Apr 10, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives past / Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Banchero is averaging just over 22 points per game and improved in just about every single statistical category from his Rookie of the Year season. His improvements have been reflected in the team's play when he is on the court, as the team looks totally different than the team that missed the playoffs last season.

The Magic is currently tied with the Indiana Pacers for fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, and if it wants to keep its seed, than the team will need to play its best basketball in these last two games of the season.

Banchero and the rest of the Magic will be back in action tomorrow against the Milwaukee Bucks. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. ET from the Kia Center.