Magic PG Markelle Fultz 'Honored' to Play with Paolo Banchero

Paolo Banchero and Markelle Fultz are slowly building the foundation for the Orlando Magic.

Jeremy Brener | Apr 20, 2023

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - When Paolo Banchero was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick, he joined two brotherhoods with Markelle Fultz.

First, the obvious one, as Orlando Magic teammates, and the other as No. 1 overall picks.

Fultz was the first selection of the 2017 NBA Draft, but struggled out of the gates with injuries during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers. He also dealt with a host of injuries the past two seasons with the Magic, but his performance this season was the best of his career so far ... and the fact that it was his first year playing with Banchero isn't just a coincidence.

"He's gonna be something like real special. He already is something special, but like as the game continues to slow down for him ... I'm super excited," Fultz said on the "Knuckleheads" Podcast. "I'm honored that I have a chance to be able to be a point guard that can help him right now. I'm just glad I have a chance to give him my little jewels and stuff like that to become one of the best players that he can be."

Fultz's assist numbers were at a career-high this past season, and his point total was as well. With Banchero on the court, attention automatically diverts his way, and that allows Fultz to cook up some offense of his own.

With Banchero on the floor as a 6-10 creator in the frontcourt, it means Fultz doesn't need to be a traditional point guard to set him up on every play, but their range of talents forces other teams to game plan for both of them.

Banchero and Fultz are huge pieces to the Magic's rebuild, and if both of them can continue to develop a rapport, they can help put Orlando on the map and turn the team into one of the most dangerous in the NBA.

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Published Apr 20, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.