Magic Starting 5: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner to Meet in FIBA World Cup Semifinals

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner will be on opposing sides, rather than together with the Orlando Magic, in the FIBA World Cup semifinals.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 7, 2023

In this story:

Orlando Magic

1. GERMANY VS. USA "Not only will Moe Wagner play, but the team's top two cornerstones, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, will play against one another for the first time in their careers."

2. MAGIC TO PLAYOFFS? “Realistically, the Magic should be competing for a spot to play in the tournament and then likely getting eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs — still a significant improvement from a season ago."

3. PAOLO, FRANZ MAKE TOP 100 "Bleacher Report had Wagner at No. 52 and Banchero at No. 40 on its list. Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. was an honorable mention on Bleacher Report's Top 100. ... There's no disputing Banchero and Wagner's potential. If their play next season warrants a similar jump to the one they made on this year's list, Orlando could improve similarly as a team."

Paolo Banchero Franz Wagner — David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

4. COLE GIVES BACK "Anthony hosted an event on Aug. 24 in the South Bronx called "The Playbook" where he invited some of the areas top high school basketball players to participate. The purpose of the event was to help the next generation of players prepare for the complicated world of basketball and the financial aspect that comes along with it."

5. MAGIC WORKOUT FOR GILES "The Osceola Magic, Orlando's G League affiliate, is preparing for the start of the season ... the franchise's first in Kissimmee.

"The move comes after spending the 2017-23 seasons in Lakeland. Now, the team is moving even closer to home base in Orlando.

"Here's a look at the team's schedule for the season ..."

Published Sep 7, 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.