Magic's Banchero on ESPN's First Take: 'We Feel Like We're Right There'

Orlando Magic star forward Paolo Banchero joined ESPN's First Take on Friday morning live from Fanatics Fan Fest. In his appearance, he discussed the Magic's path forward and where they stand in the Eastern Conference.

Mason Williams | Aug 16, 2024

Dec 17, 2023; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) dribbles the ball while Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) defends during the first half at TD Garden. / Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO — When the Orlando Magic spent a No. 1 overall draft pick on a 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward from Duke in 2022, they were making an investment in the future of the franchise.

"Orlando took a chance on me when they drafted me, and I'm forever grateful for that," said Paolo Banchero, appearing live on ESPN's flagship "First Take" program live from Fanatics Fan Fest in New York City. "I'll always give them my respect and my love for that, because no one knew I was going to go No. 1. I didn't know I was going to go No. 1."

Two seasons have passed since Banchero arrived in downtown Orlando, and he's delivering strong dividends on that investment: He is the face of the Magic – a responsibility he's tackling head on.

"They put the trust in me to take that chance and take me No. 1." Banchero said, "and after that, I felt like it was my job to help them reach heights that hadn't been reached in a long time."

After making the playoffs in 2020, Orlando dropped to win totals of 21 and 22 in the two seasons before the 2022 draft. Instantly, the Magic jumped 12 wins from Year One to Year Two, but a youthful Orlando core of Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner experienced the "up-and-down struggle."

But Year Two saw another 13-win improvement — enough to make the Magic a playoff team.

"Last year, we made the playoffs and made a huge jump," Banchero said. "So we're trying to do that again next year and keep taking it one level at a time, but we don't want to stop any time soon. We want to keep going and eventually win a championship."

Banchero understands there's a patient progression the Magic must embark on to reach those heights. The first playoff experience was a mixed bag – an adjustment that he and his team would have to make for the first time in many of their careers. Among his biggest takeaways was the necessity to slow the game down, to let it come to him and find a groove.

Throughout a seven-game series loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the second-year star averaged 27.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 45.6% shooting. Offensive struggles surrounded him as the Cavs' defense took the life out of the Magic's season. But Banchero's ascension was clear.

"Those first two games of the series in Cleveland, I felt a little sped up, I turned the ball over a lot. " Banchero said. "But from Game 1 and 2 to Game 3, I think that's when I made that jump, that adjustment. I started to really slow the game down, be really intentional with where I pick my spots on the floor to score and playmake.

"I also learned that you have to be in elite shape. Not only physically, but mentally, just to deal with the grueling seven-game series. It's fun going against the same team over and over, but it's also a huge challenge. I think that's something that I took and I'll definitely use for next year."

Apr 30, 2024; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) shoots over the defense of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) during the second half in game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Some question how plausible a timeline of contention is for the Magic. Many of their competitors at the top of the Eastern Conference improved through offseason additions or avoided dropoffs.

But the Magic improved as well, signing veteran free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to address shooting efficiency while maintaining a tenacious defensive identity. KCP, plus the playoff experience for a core that returns nearly every contributor from a season ago, give Banchero the confidence to dispute the conversation surrounding Orlando's standing in the Eastern Conference.

"Getting KCP is going to help us a lot," Banchero said. "That's a guy that's won two championships in the last five seasons. He's been around some of the greatest of all time. He's going to be able to come out and make a huge difference for us.

"We're a really young team. Getting that playoff experience, a top-5 seed last year, I think we've got a lot of momentum heading into next season. Everybody is going to get a year better, a year stronger, and just more developed. We should be good next year."

Just how good? Possibly enough, Banchero reasons, to be at the top of the Eastern Conference come mid-April.

"Man, we feel like we're right there," Banchero proclaimed. "We're right there with (Boston, Philadelphia, New York and others). I remember last year, we started the year off as a top-3, top-2 seed and everybody thought it was a fluke. Everybody thought we were going to be a play-in team and drop out of the top of the East, but we finished strong and got the fifth seed – and had a chance to really grab the two-seed at the end of the season.

"We were right there last year. We got better this year, I got better, all of us got better. We got some new pieces that's going to help a lot.

"We're trying to make some noise. I think we should easily be a top-4, top-3 team and have a chance to win the East."

Watch Banchero's full appearance on First Take, live from Fanatics Fan Fest in NYC, below.

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