Since drafting Paolo Banchero with the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic\u2019s fortunes have changed dramatically.<\/p>\n
Orlando went from being a bottom-feeder in the Eastern Conference to making the playoffs in two of Banchero\u2019s first three years as the 22-year-old has solidified himself as the face of the franchise and one of the Association\u2019s best young talents. Now, Bleacher Report believes he is close to bringing home the hardware.<\/p>\n
In a recent video<\/a>, Bleacher Report ranked Banchero at No. 7 on its top-10 list of players under 30 who are expected to win a title.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Magic have a chance to make the conference finals this year, and he is just this freak of nature,\u201d the outlet said. \u201cHe\u2019s a really, really skilled forward.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe does need to be better defensively, but it\u2019s such a good defensive team with a lot of talent around him. This is his chance to make a little bit of a push and really establish himself as one of the upper-echelon guys in the NBA.\u201d<\/p>\n Banchero posted 29.4 points in the playoffs, propelling him <\/a>to the sixth-highest scoring average in the postseason despite Orlando falling in the first round to the Boston Celtics in five games. During the regular season, Banchero logged a career-high<\/a> 25.9 points with 18 games of 30-plus points.\u00a0<\/p>\n With a newly bolstered roster around him, Banchero has the skill set and playoff prowess needed to bring the Magic their first NBA title in franchise history.<\/p>\n Former Magic Player Passes Steph Curry in GOAT Debate<\/a><\/p>\n