By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Orlando Magic couldn’t overcome the defending champion Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs and saw their season come to an end.
Team star Paolo Banchero looked back on his season and the early injury that limited him to just 46 regular season appearances.
“I was expecting to have a huge year. I had 50 points in my fourth game and I thought it was just going to be like that the whole year. And the next game, I go down and I get hurt,” the Magic forward said during Thursday’s exit interviews.
Banchero admitted the setback was a valuable learning experience.
“That was a little bit of a wake-up call for me. You can do everything right, everything possible to get ready, and you can still go down, get hurt, and have to deal with that. For me going forward, it’s about being more mindful of how I listen to my body. How do I listen to myself? And how do I keep the perspective of not trying to be ‘Superman’ in the first week of the season? I’ve got to have an 82-game plan. That’s what I learned, and I’m excited for next year.”
With a year remaining on his rookie deal, Banchero is eligible this summer to sign a five-year, $247 million max extension.
“I love it here. I tell people all the time—my first two years I was living downtown and didn’t really leave. I just went back and forth from home to the gym. Over the past year, I’ve really settled in and gotten more comfortable. It’s a place I love, my family loves spending time here, and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of the Orlando Magic. I look forward to spending many more years here.”
Banchero and German international Franz Wagner are the cornerstones of Orlando’s team. The 2023 World Cup winner also spoke about their relationship.
“We have a great relationship. As we get older and as our roles evolve, we know we have to stay on the same page and have those conversations. I’m really happy to keep building that connection with him and to keep playing together,” Wagner said during exit interviews.
Banchero averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in the regular season. In the playoffs, he elevated his performance, averaging 29.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in the series against Boston.