Magic Coach Jamahl Mosley After Paolo Banchero's Historic Performance vs. Nuggets: 'He's Beyond Special'
Paolo Banchero has rapidly risen to one of the best young players in the NBA.
Even with the lofty expectations that come with being a No. 1 overall pick, Banchero has surpassed them. Not only has Banchero become the best player on a young and ascending roster, but he has proven as long as he’s on the court, the Orlando Magic will have a shot.
Banchero turned in one of the best performances of his young career, leading an injury-riddled Magic team past the Denver Nuggets 122-120 on Friday at the Ball Arena. The second-year forward had the first triple-double of his NBA career with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. With that performance, he became the youngest player in Magic history to get a triple-double with at least 30 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, and the fourth-youngest in NBA history, only trailing elite company in Luka Doncic, De'Aaron Fox and LeBron James.
Paolo Banchero after making a dunk.
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
For Magic (20-15) head coach Jamahl Mosley, Banchero’s performance was proof of the growth he has made and how special he has become.
"He's beyond special,” Mosley said after the game. “I've seen a lot of special players in this league. He's one of them. He's not even scratched the surface of what he's capable of doing. But more importantly, is the fact that he's doing it the right way and leading his team to try to find ways to win. We've said that from the beginning. He's going to find a way to help this team win and that is just a big-time part about him and a big-time part about this entire group."
Banchero and an injury-ravaged Magic (20-15) team faced an uphill climb against the reigning NBA champions. Orlando was without Franz Wagner (ankle), Jonathan Isaac (hamstring), Joe Ingles (ankle), Goga Bitadze (illness), Wendell Carter Jr. (knee) and Gary Harris (calf). Anthony Black was out after the first half due to an illness, which left Orlando with just eight players in the second half.
Orlando trailed by as many as 18 points in the third quarter before trimming the lead to three heading into the fourth. The Magic and Nuggets traded leads in the final two minutes before a pair of free throws from Banchero with 9.7 seconds left to play gave his team the lead for good.
Cole Anthony, who had 23 points in the win, said Banchero's performances of late are proving to the masses how good he is.
"Paolo is what you would call a perennial superstar," Anthony said. "I knew that, I think he's just waking everyone else up now. I'm in such a dope position to be able to just see him develop and see him showcase to the world how talented he is and how he can affect the game in so many ways."
The Magic return home on Sunday when they face the Atlanta Hawks (14-20) at 6 p.m. ET at the Kia Center.
