Orlando Magic forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are one of the best young duos in basketball, and general manager Anthony Parker revealed why that's the case on the Orlando Magic Pod Squad.
After going 22-60 in 2021-22, the Magic improved by 25 wins two seasons later and found themselves within a game of advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals. And most of the progress can be attributed to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
"You got these two jumbo forwards that play the most coveted positions in the league because of the versatility that they offer and I think they both have high IQs and good feel,". "A lot of times you'll see star players who are good scorers and maybe lack the feel or the vision or vice versa. These two both have it, they have the guts, they're made of the right stuff, they both work hard, and they just process things quickly.
Banchero, 21, and Wagner, 22, have been the Magic's leading scorers in the past two seasons and carried that success into the franchise's first postseason appearance since 2020. Banchero, a No. 1 overall pick in 2022 and an All-Star in 2023-24, averaged 27 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the playoffs. Wagner also played well, averaging 18.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists in the seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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