Paolo Banchero has a chance to be the first top-10 player to play in Orlando since Dwight Howard.
If an anonymous assistant coach proves correct, then Paolo Banchero will solidify his status as one of the 10 best players in the NBA in 2025-26. It's a distinction the Orlando Magic has been actively working toward, with many even singing his praises as an All-NBA candidate before an injury derailed his momentum in 2024-25.
If Banchero achieves that status, it would be the first time since Dwight Howard played for the Magic that the franchise could claim to be building around a top-10 player.