Magic Star Paolo Banchero Due for All-Star Leap?

Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero is playing with Team USA in the World Cup, and will have the opportunity to sharpen his game ahead of the season.

Paolo Banchero, the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year, has solidified himself as the Orlando Magic's franchise player. 

The former top pick in the NBA draft put together a great rookie season that allowed the team to take a peek at the future of potentially making the postseason. 

The Magic has made all the appropriate moves to take another step forward from last season, where they finished 34-48. The jump from the 30-win range to the 40-win range is the easy part for a team wanting to compete, and Banchero will play a key role in the team doing so.

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins projects Banchero to take a leap in his second season.

"He improved his jump shot, showing that he's capable in his first year of being a franchise type of player," Perkins said. "I'm looking forward to seeing what he's added to his game this offseason."

Banchero averaged 20 points per game in his rookie season. He tacked on 6.9 rebounds per game and 3.7 assists per game. The counting stats are there, but he can improve when it comes to efficiency. 

If Banchero is able to take a leap in scoring efficiently, the team around him should be able to help him compete on a nightly basis. If his counting stats jump alongside his efficiency, the case for him to be an All-Star is there, especially if the team is hovering around a .500 record by the time All-Star voting comes around.

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You can follow Kade Kimble on Twitter @KadeKimble.

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