Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic embarrassed themselves at home after falling 124-97 to the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 22.
With Orlando going through an inconsistent stretch of games, Banchero decided to light a fire under himself and the team with some tough criticism.
Paolo Banchero Calls Out Magic After Hornets Loss
Orlando collapsed on the defensive side of the ball, losing the first three quarters by 30 points combined. The Hornets were on a roll offensively, scoring 27 or more points throughout every period of the game. They shot 54% from the field, including 47% from beyond the arc, and 84% from the free-throw line.
Pointing to that, Banchero said, “If we want to be a contender, or whatever you want to call it, a team that is going to play deep into the playoffs, we got to go out there and be different. We can’t just stay the same. Right now, it feels like we have the same issues as the past, and now our defense is slipping, which makes it look worse.
“Our defense covered a lot of that in the past, and now that’s slipping, and so, those problems start to be magnified when you can’t lean on your defense. I think that’s something we got to figure out.”
Listen to Paolo Banchero after tonight’s blowout loss.
Pretty damning stuff. pic.twitter.com/n9dShnT37h
— Alex Walker (@AlexWalkerTV) January 23, 2026
Banchero did have a decent display after filling up the stat sheet for Orlando. In 30 minutes of action, he finished with a stat line of 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one steal. He shot 6-of-12 overall, including 2-of-4 from downtown, and 9-of-12 from the charity stripe.
He emphasized the importance of accountability for himself and the squad, especially after starting the new year on a shaky note. “It’s on everybody. It’s on me. It’s on everyone on the team. Coaches,” Banchero told reporters in the postgame press conference.
“We’ve got to be on the same page. It sucks that I’m saying that in January but that’s the reality. I don’t think we’ve been on the same page much of this year. I just think it’s showing up with the way we’ve played, showing up with the inconsistencies throughout the season, and it’s frustrating. Guys in the locker room, we want to win. But [as] I said, you can’t just say you want to win without doing anything to make it happen.”
Banchero is going through the fourth season of his NBA career with the Magic, earning his first All-Star selection in 2024. Throughout 33 games into the year, he is averaging 21 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 5 assists per contest.
What’s Next on Schedule for Banchero and Magic?
Banchero and the Magic have been 4-5 throughout the first nine games of 2026. With the expectations that they have to be serious playoff contenders, they must figure out how to get past their current struggles and ignite a solid win streak to go up in the rankings.
Orlando has a 23-20 record so far this season, holding the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They lead over the Miami Heat by one game and Chicago Bulls by 1.5 games. However, they are behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers by one game.
The Magic will look to bounce back by returning to the win column in their next home game. They host the Cavaliers on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. ET before going to Cleveland to conclude the back-to-back on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. ET.
