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5 things the Orlando Magic still have to play for

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic can no longer make the postseason. But they still have things to accomplish. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic can no longer make the postseason. But they still have things to accomplish. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Paolo Banchero’s emergence as a rookie of the year has boosted the Orlando Magic this year and set the table for a strong future. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

5 things the Orlando Magic still have to play for

Paolo Banchero’s quest for 20.0 PPG

Paolo Banchero should have Rookie of the Year already wrapped up.

There was at least a national media push to open up the discussion, but the debate was long decided. Banchero has been consistently good for the entire season, putting in statistics that place him among superstars from their rookie year.

Whether it is fair or not, there are statistical markers that matter that separate the elite players from everyone else. Scoring 20 points per game is one such marker. Only the elite players seem to be able to hit that marker.

And in Orlando Magic history, it is exceptionally rare. The Magic have had only a few players — Nick Anderson, Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, Steve Francis, Dwight Howard and Nikola Vucevic — reach 20 points per game. As you can tell from that list, the Magic have not had a perimeter player or non-center do it since Francis in 2005.

In a league that is about scoring and in the postseason requires a perimeter creator, this has been something the franchise has missed for some time.

So Banchero very much has something to play for to ensure he averages 20 points per game. He would join a list of rookies that is only 25 players long since 1980 and contains future All-Stars except for a few players who achieved it. The last rookie to reach 20 points per game was Zion Williamson in 2020 (he played only 24 games) and then Luka Doncic in 2019.

These are mostly elite rookies and future stars of the league.

So what does Banchero need to do to hit this mythic amount?

Banchero is currently averaging 20.0 points per game on the dot. Well actually, it is 19.95. So he is right on the edge of losing out on joining this exclusive club.

If he wants to average exactly 20 points per game, he would need to score 23 more points if he plays one more game, 43 points if he plays two more games or 63 points if he plays the team’s three remaining games.

To hit 19.95 points per game and get the benefit of rounding up (who else remembers significant figures from school?), Banchero would need to score 20 points if he plays one game, 40 more points if he plays two more games and 60 points if he plays the three remaining games.

Banchero needs to hit 20.0 points per game to secure one of these historic seasons. And that is a nice, tidy round number to cement his Rookie of the Year award. There is no reason to think Banchero will not hit this mark.