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Tracy McGrady is one of the best scorers in NBA history and obviously one of the best players in Orlando Magic franchise history.

It was with the Magic that McGrady became one of the best players in the NBA, leading the league in scoring twice (2003, 2004), while leading Orlando to three consecutive playoff appearances.

Fast forward to the present day, the Magic have a new franchise face in Paolo Banchero. The 23-year-old hasn’t even reached the prime of his career yet, but he’s already shown his potential by earning an All-Star bid during the 2023-24 season, a year after winning Rookie of the Year.

The Magic have been an annual playoff team in the Banchero era, advancing to the playoffs each of the last two years. However, this year’s team – especially after the addition of Desmond Benn – was expected to make the jump from a marginal playoff team to one of the very elite teams of the East.

Despite serious injuries to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum – he recently made his season debut – and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, the Magic are still sixth in the Eastern Conference and trying to avoid the play-in tournament. Entering Saturday’s game, Orlando is 38-31 and just a half-game ahead of the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers.

McGrady believes Banchero has ‘superstar’ potential

Banchero is having a good season, but hasn’t really taken the next step up to the elite level. McGrady said “it will come” for the young star.

“It will come,” McGrady said in Banchero’s one-on-one interview. “He’s young, he’s trying to figure it out. There’s a lot of pressure on a young player, and he’s learning. Not having a real, true vet to really teach him and help him understand and guide him on how this thing works, I’m sure it’s very hard for him.

McGrady – who was a superstar himself and is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame – said Banchero has the “tools” to become a superstar player.

“But in terms of tools, size, I think he has what it takes to be a superstar — not All-Star — superstar player,” McGrady said. “I think it’s up to him how he approaches the game and the information he’s consuming, and how you apply it when you’re on the basketball court? Are you reaching out to vets, people who have been in that situation? Are you getting that advice? How are you taking that advice? Or are you pushing it? Are you implementing it? I think there’s a lot of things he can do to help him get to that level. But his Has the size, has the tools, I think he can definitely get there.”

McGrady – who has played against LeBron James several times in his career – said Banchero should be at “LeBron status” in terms of what his stat line should look like. For perspective, James is one of the greatest players of all-time and has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game during his career.

Banchero is currently averaging 22.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

“That stat line should be on LeBron’s situation in terms of what he should look like every night,” Banchero’s McGrady said.

When McGrady was asked to make a comparison to the fourth-year player, he said he didn’t, because no one reminds him of the 6-foot-10 Banchero and what he is capable of doing on the court.

“No, he doesn’t really remind me of anyone,” McGrady said. “He’s 6 foot 10 inches, brother. He’s a big man. When I talk to him when I’m down there, if I go watch a game or something, and I’m around those guys, I have a conversation with him. But other than that, I don’t have any kind of relationship with him. But he’s a big man. Man, he’s a big man. Man, 6-10, heavy and just talk about mass. If he wants to, he should be Average of 30 points in this league.”