Paolo Banchero didn’t sugarcoat it. After another first‑round exit, the Orlando Magic star admitted the team isn’t good enough right now, delivering a raw assessment that stung as much as the loss itself. Yankee Scores reports.
Banchero Speaks His Mind
Following Orlando’s 116‑94 Game 7 defeat to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, Banchero was asked if the Magic had enough talent to contend for the NBA.
He paused before saying, “I want to say yes, but this the third straight time we haven’t gotten out of the first round… so if you are going off the last three years, the answer is no. The nice answer is yes, honestly speaking, I can’t say we’re good enough to be in the finals or the Eastern finals, because the last three years, we’ve had the same result.
So that’s your answer.”
Carrying the Load Alone
With Franz Wagner sidelined by injury, Banchero shouldered the offense, averaging 33.3 points over the final three games and scoring 38 in Game 7.
Yet his teammates struggled badly, scoring 32 in the first three quarters, shooting just 27% while Banchero hit 54.5% from the field.
Coach Jamahl Mosley admitted, “We just couldn’t find the basket, we were playing well on defense, but we couldn’t put the ball in the hole.”
Pistons Find Their Answers
Detroit, meanwhile, got the support Orlando lacked. Cade Cunningham scored 32, Tobias Harris added 30, and Jalen Duren posted 15 points with 15 rebounds. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised Harris: “He’s a leader and a high‑level competitor. He showed up tonight with everything on the line.”
What’s Next for Orlando?
The Magic’s collapse, blowing a 3‑1 series lead and averaging just 16.6 points per quarter over their final six quarters, leaves big questions about their future.
Banchero’s honesty reflects the frustration of a franchise stuck in neutral, while the Pistons move on to the second round against Cleveland Cavaliers.
