Expectations were sky-high for the Orlando Magic entering the 2025–26 season. After steady playoff progress and the rise of franchise star Paolo Banchero, many believed Orlando was ready to take a major leap. However, inconsistency on both ends of the floor has slowed that momentum, and now one former NBA champion has publicly challenged Banchero’s performance.
Former NBA Champion Calls Out Paolo Banchero’s 2025–26 Season
Former NBA champion and current analyst Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back while speaking on NBA Today when the Magic were labeled as the most disappointing team in the Eastern Conference. Perkins, in fact, went a step further.
“I will go a little further and say Paolo Banchero has been the biggest disappointment player-wise. When you talk about a guy that, when we came into this season, we had high expectations for this young man.”
“His ceiling, we was talking about, you know… Being one of the top five young players under 25, he has taken three or four steps backwards…Can he be that guy that’s going to go out there and play at an All-NBA level every single night? By the way, he didn’t make the All-Star game.”
“I mean, his points have dropped by three or four points since last season. He has been the biggest disappointment. Not just the team, but him.”
Perkins’ criticism centers on the gap between expectation and production. While Banchero is still putting up solid numbers, the energy many expected hasn’t consistently shown up this season.
The 23-year-old forward signed a five-year, $240,700,000 designated rookie extension with Orlando that runs from 2026 through 2030, signaling the franchise’s full commitment to building around him.
Statistically, Banchero remains productive. He is averaging 21.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while playing 34.5 minutes per night and shooting 45.4% from the field. However, his scoring has dropped from 25.9 points per game last season, and his three-point efficiency has dipped to 30.2%.
That decline has become a key talking point, especially after Banchero earned an All-Star selection in 2024 but failed to make the roster this season.
The Magic currently holds a 28–25 record and sits in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings. While the team remains competitive, going 3–2 in its last five games, the overall leap many expected hasn’t materialized.
Team metrics highlight the issue. The Magic rank 14th in defensive rating at 114.7 and just 21st in offensive rating at 114.6. For a roster built around a primary scoring forward, those numbers reflect inconsistency rather than growth.
Banchero, who was selected first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, has already led Orlando to two playoff appearances and remains one of the league’s most versatile young forwards. His ability to score, rebound, and create offense makes him the centerpiece of the franchise’s long-term plan.
But with a max contract kicking in and expectations rising, performances are now being judged at a different level.
The Magic were widely projected to approach 50+ wins this season. That goal is still mathematically possible, but it will likely require a stronger second-half surge from their franchise star.
