The Orlando Magic have been a major disappointment this year, currently sitting at 28-25 as they prepare to return from the All-Star break. The Magic pushed all of their chips to the center of the table in the offseason by trading for Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Benn, but so far, they don’t have much to show for it.
One of the biggest culprits for the Magic’s decline has been the play of Paolo Banchero, who has largely lagged behind so far this season.
Recently, former NBA great Kendrick Perkins put a harsh label on Banchero on ESPN’s NBA Today.
“I’ll go a little further and say Paolo Banchero has been the most disappointing player-wise,” Perkins, formerly of the NBA on ESPN, said on Twitter.
While Banchero still has a lot of natural talent, many fans have grown tired of his poor shot selection, occasional lapses in defense, and overall lack of progress from his rookie year.
This, along with persistent injury concerns for the Magic, especially to co-star Franz Wagner, has Orlando currently sitting in a play-in position in the East, well below where most pundits projected them to be at this point in the season.
Of course, Orlando still has plenty of time to turn things around, and it’s unlikely that Banchero can improve his basketball IQ and decision-making as his career progresses. However, for now, he is hoping to avoid following the career path of players like Ja Morant, who received accolades early in his career before slowly slipping into obscurity.
In any case, the Magic will next take the field on Thursday evening when they begin their West Coast trip against the Sacramento Kings, their first game since the All-Star break. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:00 pm ET.
#Kendrick #Perkins #slaps #Paolo #Banchero #biggest #disappointment #reality
