It won't be long until Paolo Banchero is seen as a top-10 talent

Paolo Banchero has endured a difficult 2024-25 NBA season. Despite dealing with injuries that have limited him to just 39 games, he's starting to showcase his undoubted skill.

The Orlando Magic star has dropped 30 or more points in his last four games. That feat places him in the company of Magic legends Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy McGrady and Dwight Howard.

Banchero's most recent scoring outburst came against the Charlotte Hornets on March 25. During his postgame news conference, the powerful forward admitted that he's getting back to his physical best.

“I’m just feeling good. I’m feeling a lot better physically, I’m in shape,” Banchero said. “I can run a lot faster, a lot longer, not getting tired as quickly. So, it’s just helping the rest of my game. When I have wind and I’m not tired, I can do anything — just trying to play confident, make the right plays, and be aggressive when I need to and, yeah, I’m playing some good basketball right now. So, [I] just wanna keep it up.”

Banchero was the Rookie of the Year in 2023. Last season, he became an All-Star for the first time, proving himself to be an elite-level sophomore talent. There's no doubt that he could have made another All-Star selection this season if he'd stayed healthy. 

If the 6-foot-10 do-it-all forward can remain healthy, it won't be too long until we start discussing him as an All-NBA Team candidate. Furthermore, he will likely be entering the discussion as a top-10 or top-15 player in the world within the next 18 months. 

The Magic have proved to be a difficult opponent. In recent years, they gave some of the best teams in the league a hard time. As Banchero, Franz Wagner and the rest of the roster continue to mature and improve, Orlando will be well-positioned to contend in the Eastern Conference. 

Seeing Banchero dominate on the court is encouraging. His presence is good for the league. Sooner or later, he's going to be a staple in the daily NBA news cycle.