Orlando Magic forward and NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero is making a trip back to his hometown of Seattle this offseason. For Evans, it was a 2022 season of ups and downs. At only 22 years old, Banchero is becoming one of the most sought after young stars in the NBA. He became named to the 2024 All-Star roster as well and scored a noteworthy new career-high of 50 points against the Indiana Pacers on October 30, 2024. His journey was understandably and often incredibly difficult. A torn oblique forced him to miss 34 games in that 2024-2025 season.
However, even with these losses, Banchero and the Magic rallied to clinch the seventh seed and a place in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Sadly, they suffered an early exit for the second straight season, falling in the first round once more. That disappointment, Banchero says, lit a fire under him to make sure he’s more prepared for next season. He wants nothing more than to go deeper in the postseason.
Banchero looks back on the season and begins to understand what it takes to be healthy and successful. He reminds us all to not take these blessings for granted. He remembered thinking, “I’ve never wanted my season to end that early again—making the playoffs after my rookie season, I missed it.” This is going to suck sitting at home watching all this competitive, high-level basketball go down. His sentiments are a sign of a rising frustration with early playoff exits and a separate underscoring of his desire to take the Magic deeper into the postseason.
Overall, this offseason should be a time of renewal and transformative development for Banchero. He hopes to travel around Europe, going back to visit friends and family and most importantly, celebrating his grandmother’s 75th birthday this June. As he prepares to return to Seattle, he reflects on his experiences during the season, including his participation in a video and written diary with Andscape. For Banchero, this opportunity is another avenue for him to tell his story.
“I hope everyone learns. I’m gonna be able to go back and watch these episodes forever. One day I’m going to have kids and I’m going to show them, ‘This is what I was like when I was in my third season, 21, 22 years old.’” – Paolo Banchero
Banchero’s injury in the fifth game of the season led him to reevaluate his priorities both on and off the court. He learned the harsh lesson that effort alone is not going to cut it at the NBA level. It requires a special combination of talent, health and collaborative spirit to succeed. His takeaways from that experience are informing his philosophy going into training and preparation for the 2024 season.
As he looks ahead, Banchero acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead but remains optimistic about his future in the league. He knows that it’s really important to set the tone right off the bat for any young player with a mind for a second contract. He stated, “That’s every young player’s goal coming into this league, establishing yourself early, get a second contract.”
Banchero’s performance on the court has certainly made waves, but it is his maturity and introspection that set him apart as he navigates his career. He’s preparing for a new season, inspired by the desire to go further into the playoffs. His belief that we can always do better keeps him going.
“It just sucks because this [is] the second [time] you’re going out in the first round… I want to play through May into June [during the NBA Finals].” – Paolo Banchero
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