How did Magic forward Paolo Banchero celebrate his rookie scale extension this summer? By going back to the gym that night, he told Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
“I definitely signed it right away. There was no real thought. Just where do I sign?” Banchero said. “It was a surreal feeling. The day it got announced and everything, the day it got done, I didn’t know what to even do. My phone was blowing up. Everybody wanted to congratulate and call me and it was like the middle of the day and I was just sitting in the house and I was just like, ‘What am I supposed to do?’ Am I supposed to go celebrate or am I supposed to respond to everybody? I don’t know.’
“So, I had worked out that morning and I ended up just going back to the gym that night. And I was just like, ‘I’ll just go say thank you to the game and just go get some shots up.’ And that’d be my way of celebrating, kind of paying it back to the game for blessing me in that way. So that’s kind of what I did. I didn’t really know how else to handle it.”
Banchero signed his five-year, maximum-salary extension in early July. He’s averaging 23.3 points, a career-high 9.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game so far this season.
Here’s more on the Magic:
- Jalen Suggs didn’t play on Monday against Portland due to left knee injury management and still hasn’t been cleared for back-to-backs, according to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. Suggs had 20 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes during Sunday’s 111-107 loss to Boston. Suggs, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a cartilage fragment in his left knee in March, is not on the injury report for Wednesday’s game against the Knicks, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel tweets.
- Slumping Desmond Bane, the team’s big offseason acquisition, hit a three-pointer at just the right time. Bane knocked down his first career game-winning buzzer beater against the Trail Blazers in Monday’s 115-112 victory. Bane has missed his five previous three-point tries during the contest. “I just want to be a part of winning,” Bane said, per Youngmisuk. “But I think moments like tonight really help you settle into a new situation.” Bane, a career 40.7% three-point shooter, has made only 27.7% of his long-distance tries this season.
- Tristan Da Silva had just two points and three rebounds in 17 minutes on Monday but generally, he’s shown growth offensively during his second NBA season, Beede notes. The 24-year-old forward is averaging 10.9 points on 46.7% shooting from the field and 39.2% from distance. As a rookie, he averaged 7.2 points on 41.2% shooting (33.5% on threes).
Since coming to league, Banchero gave expression of poor man Antony. For now he’s still that.
I hope for Magic sake that he ll disprove me
Carmelo? He has way more play making in his game than Carmelo IMO.
I think he and Wagner may be a little too similar.
Even though Banchero is better than Jabari Smith, I wonder if their team structure would be better if they drafted Smith #1 that year.
Melo was a 3. Banchero is a 4. Gm is kind of similar. Banchero is for real. Magic just need time to work out the kinks. Imo Suggs and Black as PGs have to step up and lead.
Sorry, but sort of nice to see 40% career three point shooter Desmond Bane shoot a low percentage from three with his new team. He’ll adjust and shoot better from three as will White, Hauser & Pritchard on the Celts as they find their fav threes on this much changed Celtics team.
Weird
Have a feeling that Jamahl Mosley will have a SHORT lease. So much money and draft compensation have been spent the last few years in Orlando to be mediocre in a weak east. Last year, they had some bad injury luck with Suggs/Paolo/Wagner but this year they needed to start the gate out strong but look like the pressure of being a top team is getting to them.
Its Detroit thats getting to them. They have met the over romanticism of fast start expectations which is in turn going to fuel the curde of are they this years Pacers.
Detroit is getting more out of thier money and draft picks than the Magic are currently.
I still believe in Magic.. they got 70 gms to make it right. In their loses they have given up a lot of points. That’s not like them. Bane is still finding his way. If you traded for him. Then you have to help him find his way. His three pt shooting will come around. He just needs to keep shooting. His FT shooting is still solid. Thats a key indicator of shooting woes. Imo their team D is what they need most.
I know they would love to beat Knicks. To show they are still around. So Knicks better be ready. We will need our bench tonight. Suggs and Black are key to Magic success. Both have to be consistent this year. And play major roles for Magic to level up.