Magic's Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner: 'Orlando Hit The Jackpot!'
ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic's dynamic duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were named as one of the best under-25 duos in the NBA heading into the 2023-24 season.
"Orlando hit the jackpot," CBS Sports writes. "As a duo, these guys averaged over 38 points per game last season, and they haven't even scratched the surface of their potential, individually or as a tandem."
Wagner and Banchero are just 22 and 20 years old respectively and impressed many in their first season playing together in 2022-23.
Banchero averaged 20.0 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game and 3.7 assists per game on his way to winning Rookie of the Year last season. Wagner averaged 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last year on a true shooting percentage of 58.9 percent.
USA Today
The two are expected to take another step forward this season as Orlando makes a push for the playoffs. The Magic drafted Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to pair with Wagner. He was drafted the year prior with the No. 8 overall pick that they received from the Chicago Bulls in the Nikola Vucevic trade.
The only under-25 duo that ranked higher on the list was Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies. Below Orlando's star pair on the list was Darius Garland and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe from the Portland Trail Blazers.
