With the 2024-25 NBA season beginning, lots of NBA teams are looking to bounce back from last year and not let the Boston Celtics go back-to-back this year. Many teams are contenders. In the Western Conference, you have the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, and many other teams. Also in the East, you have the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and the Orlando Magic. There are so many teams but from the looks of it to start the season off, this team has a lot of potential to go far this year.
The Orlando Magic after getting bounced out of the playoffs in just the first round vs the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 7-game series are looking for a bounce-back year this season and so far that’s what it is looking like. They have Wendell Carter Jr, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, and Franz Wagner, but their main superstar is the 2022 number-one draft pick, Paolo Banchero. Last year, Banchero averaged 22.6 Points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 35 minutes. But to start this year, he’s improved in everything. Banchero’s scoring is up this season (now 28.5 points a game) and he’s doing it more efficiently, shooting 39.1% from 3 so far (up from 33.9% a year ago) and his assist percentage is up as well. Banchero has made a leap and as he does the Magic are coming along with him, they are now 3-1 to start the season. He’s even averaging more assists and increased his rebounding by 1.9 rebounds which is a big contribution to his team.
“I have him on my fantasy team, and when I tell you he doesn’t disappoint not once, he doesn’t. He averages almost 30 points per game this year, and he can do it all. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the MVP race by the end of the year if he keeps the pace he’s playing at right now.” Brooklyn Cannon, Sophomore
Banchero is looking to take his talent and his team far this year and try to win the 2024-25 NBA finals no matter what team steps up in front of them and challenges them.
“I didn’t watch the game a lot but I heard everyone talk about it so I wanted to figure out if this guy was legit, so I checked the 50-point game highlight tape on YouTube during study hall, and Jesus, this guy is different. He comes down the court and can score so effortlessly and efficiently. This guy is a pure superstar.” Isaiah Higgins, a sophomore explained.
