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Orlando Magic Rebuild: Even surprise playoff teams can get off to slow starts

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Paolo Banchero's stellar start to the season has not translated into wins for the Orlando Magic. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Paolo Banchero's stellar start to the season has not translated into wins for the Orlando Magic. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Pat Garrity
LeBron James’ Hall of Fame career did not start off with the strongest showing. (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Rookie playoff teams who struggled out of the gates

LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-04)

Record: 35-47, missed playoffs by one game
Started: 4-15 (including 0-5)

Since Paolo Banchero is getting compared to some of the absolute best players in NBA history, we might as well take a look at how LeBron James started his career.

There was no denying the impact James made from the moment he stepped onto the court. James scored 25 points in his opening game against the Sacramento Kings (Banchero scored 27 in his debut game). He averaged 16.8 points per game through his first five games.

Like Banchero, those first five games were all losses. James was individually brilliant and his future in the league seemed pre-destined. But his team was just not very good.

That rough start continued through November as the team started 4-15 on the year.

No one doubted James, but the young team did not put the pieces together. This was even with veterans like Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ricky Davis (although Davis famously fought the idea that this was suddenly James’ team).

The Cavaliers were also a very young team, leaning on LeBron James but also second-year player (and future All-Star) Carlos Boozer. The Cavaliers needed to learn how to win.

That came in January. The team was 11-26 and then proceeded to win eight of their next 11 to get to 10 games under .500. Then they made another push in March winning seven straight games to get to 31-36.

During that seven-game win streak, James averaged 22.6 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game and 5.7 assists per game. The typical things you would expect from James.

Cleveland did fall a game short of making the playoffs. But James would not miss the playoffs again until the 2019 season. It was start of an incredible run of dominance for one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Yes, the Eastern Conference was much weaker at this time. There is no denying the margin for error was wider for teams hoping to sneak into the postseason.

But James’ career still started with this immense struggle and growing pains of a young team. They had their issues just like this Magic team has its issues. And the team recovered from them.