Paolo Banchero possesses one of the most versatile offensive skill sets in the NBA. At 6-foot-10, 250 pounds, he can score from all three levels and handle the ball better than most forwards.
Most people immediately point to his offensive prowess when discussing the Orlando Magic star, but Wendell Carter Jr. put Banchero’s defense in the spotlight after a recent win.
Wendell Carter Jr. Thinks Paolo Banchero Can be the Best in This League
The Magic came away with a nail-biting 110-109 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 24. LeBron James’ potential game-winning fadeaway 3-pointer bounced off the rim, sealing Orlando’s win. After the game, a reporter asked Carter to give his thoughts on Banchero’s defensive performance.
“When [Paolo] is locked in defensively, he’s one of the best in this league. He has the potential to be one of the best two-way players to ever play this game, in my opinion. He had two big challenges with Kawhi the other night and then Luka tonight. He took that challenge head-on. When he’s in that mode, when he’s locked in, it unlocks this team and takes us to a whole other level,” said Carter confidently.
Banchero and the Magic held Luka Dončić to 22 points- a full 10 points below the Lakers superstar’s season average. Dončić shot just 8-of-24 from the field and 2-of-10 from beyond the arc. The Lakers’ six-time All-Star will inevitably put up numbers, but his defender’s goal is to make his buckets as difficult as possible. Banchero certainly accomplished this last night.
On the game’s final possession, Los Angeles ran a play for a Dončić 3-pointer. Deandre Ayton set a strong screen up top, but Banchero’s closeout might have forced a pass. With only three seconds left on the clock, James threw up a prayer that went unanswered.
Banchero’s mobility, paired with his size and length, gives him the tools to defend multiple positions. He can jostle with bigger forwards down low, as well as move his feet quickly against guards on the perimeter.
The Magic finished with a top-three defensive rating for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns. They earned a hard-nosed, physical reputation. However, this season, Orlando ranks 13th with a 113.4 defensive rating. This number certainly remains respectable, but it does not reach the elite level of the previous two campaigns.
With Franz Wagner remaining sidelined due to a high ankle sprain, the Magic lose another rangy, lengthy, physical defender. This puts more pressure on Banchero to consistently lock in defensively, while carrying the biggest offensive burden.
