Paolo Banchero’s Percieved Underrated Status Could Benefit Magic This Season

The Orlando Magic have a scoring problem: they can’t score. The lack of points was especially glaring last season, despite Orlando’s playoff berth after advancing out of the play-in. To start the season, the Magic were one of the top teams in the conference before injuries began to take their toll. Orlando was good enough to win games, but as the season waned, their scoring fell off. It eventually aided in their ultimate doom in round one of the playoffs. All of that said, however, while the Magic have a scoring problem, a Paolo Banchero problem, they do not. While the budding superstar is largely underrated by many, NBA expert Zach Lowe has a very different opinion.

Paolo Banchero’s Percieved Underrated Status Could Benefit Magic This Season

Paulo Banchero is the right kind of magic for the Orlando Magic this season

Before Banchero’s untimely injury last season, Orlando was cruising. They were off to one of their best season starts in a long time. Since Banchero’s draft, the Magic have continued to improve as a team, and they are now considered consistent playoff contenders. With the brutal injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, the East is more wide open than ever. Subsequently, Orlando’s window is also wider than ever.

Still, despite just how good Banchero is, and scoring problems aside, how good the Magic are, Banchero isn’t held with as high regard as some other young rising super stars on his level. With two consecutive playoff appearances in a row with Banchero as the lead, Orlando is a threat in their conference. While their roster is solid (especially since trading for Desmond Bane), Banchero is entering a phase in his career where he can shut the mouths of his depreciators. He’ll be the main reason why Orlando will have a successful upcoming season. He may also prove why he’s everything but underrated. 

Zach Lowe gives Banchero an enthusiastic stamp of approval

Lowe, the former ESPN voice and respected NBA mind, isn’t having any of the Banchero disrespect. The pressure may be on for Banchero to have a solid season and lead Orlando on a deep playoff run. But Lowe is on the other side of the “underrated” discussion. Speaking on his podcast, The Zach Lowe Show [32:00 mark], Lowe isn’t convinced Banchero is as inefficient as many claim him to be; instead, Lowe claims Banchero is “awesome.”