With the Eastern Conference as wide open as it has ever been, the Orlando Magic saw it as the perfect opportunity to make a major move to improve their chances in the 2025-26 NBA season. As a result, a blockbuster move brought Desmond Bane to the roster.
As three-point shooting remained one of the only vices of the roster, it felt like an extremely smart move on paper. However, on the court, the execution hasn’t been as seamless as many anticipated. Now, after a bizarre exchange on the sidelines, the star shooting guard is being called out by media analysts as well.
Desmond Bane Makes Wild Play Against the Knicks
In a matchup between two teams firmly in the playoff picture, the New York Knicks were able to take care of business with a 106-100 victory. However, the story of the game was something else entirely.
As OG Anunoby was trying to extend the lead with a fastbreak run to the rim, he was undercut by Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black, both of whom met him at the top to deny him a shot.
As the ball fell, it ended up landing right in the hands of Bane, who was standing under the basket. What happened next was utterly inexplicable. With Anunoby lying in a heap, entangled with Suggs, the former Memphis Grizzlies star viciously threw the ball at him.
Trying to get possession for Orlando might have been the rationale from the sharpshooter, but the force behind his throw raised a lot of eyebrows. Even announcer Mike Breen was left shocked, as fans roared their anger at the display.
The clip quickly went viral, and Ashley Nicole Moss, who covers the league for CBS Sports and has often been outspoken on social media, chided Bane by calling his actions “clown behavior.”
It was certainly hard to justify the rationale behind the outburst from Bane. But for a season that hasn’t gone completely according to plan for the Magic, it might have been a building frustration over the lack of production from them.
While the Detroit Pistons have risen to the top of the Eastern Conference, Orlando has also had to watch the Toronto Raptors, the Miami Heat, and the Jayson Tatum-less Boston Celtics give them stiff competition in the playoff race.
Moreover, Bane hasn’t been the force many believed he could be individually. Averaging the lowest amount of points (18.3) since his sophomore season, while shooting a career low from the field (43.9%) and 3-point land (32.5%), he has been unable to be the salve for the Magic offense.
Instead, as his struggles continue, the team hasn’t been able to rise to its full ceiling, leading to increased frustrations from the fan base.
