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5 things we learned from the Orlando Magic’s FIBA World Cup run

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Franz Wagner and Germany won the FIBA World Cup. Now we wonder what Wagner will bring home to the Orlando Magic. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Franz Wagner and Germany won the FIBA World Cup. Now we wonder what Wagner will bring home to the Orlando Magic. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
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Paolo Banchero, United States
Paolo Banchero has emerged as a strong defender for Team USA, a skill that would not have likely emerged with Italy. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA/AFP via Getty Images) /

5 things we learned from Orlando Magic’s FIBA World Cup

Paolo Banchero Fills in his Scoring

Orlando Magic fans did not really know what to expect when Paolo Banchero decided to join Team USA.

He was going to an unnatural role, at least for what Magic fans were familiar with after his rookie year. Banchero was not going to be Team USA’s primary scorer. He was not even going to be on the ball that often. His role was going to be about some of the things he struggled with the most — working as a spot-up shooter, screening and defending.

And that is even before we get to Steve Kerr opting to use him at center, a position that felt totally unnatural to him.

Grades for Banchero are a bit all over the map. But Sam Quinn of CBS Sports probably put it best when handing Banchero a C+ grade. Banchero’s struggles for Team USA were not his fault. He was a square peg shoved into a round hole to try to solve problems inherent with the roster the U.S. brought.

To say the least, U.S. is heading home from the Philippines without a medal because they had to play Banchero at center and not because of Banchero’s play at center.

The reality is Banchero looked surprisingly strong in his run at center.

He averaged 3.4 rebounds per game and 7.9 rebounds per 40 minutes (6.9 rebounds per game in the regular season with the Orlando Magic and 7.4 rebounds per 36 minutes). His rebounding was down (as it was for everyone on Team USA, but not by much.

The surprising part of his play was his rim protection — 0.9 blocks per game at the World Cup and 0.5 blocks per game with the Magic in his rookie year. Many of Banchero’s best highlights were blocks. That was not something he did for the Magic last year.

His overall defense looked a lot better than it did throughout his rookie year. Banchero took to the role and really expanded his game.

The scoring will be there — he still averaged 9.3 points per game in seven games and shot 17 for 25 from the foul line (3.6 free throw attempts per game in 17.3 minutes per game). Nobody is worried about Banchero being able to put the ball in the hoop or force his way to the line.

Now it seems like Banchero has a lot more to add to the court. And the Magic are expecting him and have seen him be a more well-rounded player.

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