Paolo Banchero is ready to put the Orlando Magic on his shouldersturning the disappointment of a frustrating season into motivation for a fresh start.
The 23-year-old Italian-American star knows last season fell well short of the franchise’s expectations, but he also understands that the team’s long-term growth depends on his own continued development.
With new head coach Sean Sweeney taking over, the organization has embraced a major reset, and its franchise player has made it clear that he’s ready to lead the way instead of hiding behind the usual preseason clichés.
In a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports, Banchero laid out an ambitious roadmap for his own development – one he believes is entirely within reach.
I want to improve every part of my game. My field-goal percentage, my three-point shooting, my free throws. I just need to become more efficient. I believe I can be a 25-point, 8-rebound, 7-assist player every night – that’s absolutely achievable for me. I’ll keep working on the details every single day without obsessing over the numbers, focusing instead on the process and on helping the team win. The rest will take care of itself
Paolo Banchero
The self-awareness displayed by the Duke product is the ideal foundation for closing the gap between Orlando and the Eastern Conference’s elite.
Last season, Banchero averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per gamethough his shooting efficiency left room for improvement, as he finished at 45.9% from the field and 30.5% from three-point range. To reach the level he’s aiming for, the Magic forward will need to embrace the role of point forward even more fullybecoming the primary offensive creator in Sweeney’s system.
His confidence also extends to the landscape of the Eastern Conference. With the conference as competitive as ever – following major roster changes in Miami, Philadelphia, and Toronto, which is still waiting for the NBA to finalize the Kawhi Leonard trade – Banchero sees an opportunity for Orlando to make a leap.
I think the East is wide open. A lot of players see it that way too, which is why so many free agents are heading there. Last season didn’t go the way we wanted, so people are going to overlook us and count us out. It’s up to us to prove on the court that we’re an elite team. We have what it takes to win the conference, and Coach Sweeney has a brilliant basketball mind. He’s exactly the person we need
Paolo Banchero
The Magic are embracing a new direction as they look to climb the Eastern Conference standings. The pieces are in place to emerge as one of the league’s top contenders – it now comes down to finding the right formula to make the project a success.
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