Tag: Orlando Magic

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero will miss at least a month with oblique injury

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero will put his third NBA season on hold as he recovers from an oblique injury.

Former Duke basketball star [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag]’s breakout NBA season will be on hold for the foreseeable future.

According to a Thursday night report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, Banchero will miss at least the next four weeks after he suffered a torn right oblique.

“He will be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks and return to play will be based on how he responds to treatment,” Charania wrote.

Banchero led the Orlando Magic to the Eastern Conference Playoffs last season, averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists en route to his first NBA All-Star nomination.

Through the first five games of his third year, it seemed like the former No. 1 overall pick had taken another step forward toward the upper echelon of basketball stars. He averaged 29.0 points thanks to his first career 50-point game, and he was on track for career highs in rebounds (8.8), assists (5.6), field goal percentage (49.5%), and 3-point percentage (34.4%).

The Magic play 16 games in November, so Banchero would need to return as soon as possible to be eligible for any end-of-season awards. Players must appear in at least 65 contests to make the All-NBA or All-Defensive teams, meaning Banchero could only miss 17 games before forgoing his chances.

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero sets new NBA career-high with 50 points

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero scored 50 points against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, setting a new NBA career-high.

Former Duke superstar [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag], now a forward for the Orlando Magic, had a career night against the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

Banchero put together his first 50-point game en route to a 119-115 victory, adding 13 rebounds, nine assists, and two blocks in 40 minutes.

Banchero made it clear he had his eyes on a special night from the opening tip. He scored 37 points in the first half alone, and he made 16 of his 26 shots and 15 of his 22 free-throw attempts for the night.

“I’m tired as hell,” Banchero said after the game. “But it was a hell of a game.”

“Felt like I was in an open gym back at home just working on my game,” he continued. “Every shot felt like it was going in and it’s a good feeling when you’ve got a day like that.”

Paolo’s career performance came in the fourth game of his third NBA season. The former No. 1 overall pick earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2022-23 before earning his first All-Star nomination last year when he averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while leading Orlando to the playoffs.

It’s also worth noting, he’s doing this at just 21 years old.

Paolo Banchero opens his third NBA season with 33-point double-double

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero opened his third NBA season with 33 points and 11 rebounds against the Miami Heat.

In his second NBA season, [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag] increased his scoring average to 22.6 points per game, dished out 5.4 assists, and led the Orlando Magic to the playoffs in a dramatic seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

So how could the former Blue Devil possibly set the bar higher in year three? He answered that question pretty quickly on Wednesday night against the Miami Heat.

Banchero scored 33 points, making four of his eight 3-point attempts, and grabbed 11 rebounds. The StatMamba account on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter) pointed out that, once you had in his three assists without a single turnover, he joined NBA legend Michael Jordan as the only players to finish with that line in a season opener.

The Magic won the game convincingly as well, a 116-97 triumph to position themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Banchero wasn’t the only former Duke basketball alum with a dominant first game. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum scored 37 points in a double-double of his own as the defending champions beat the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

2024-25 Orlando Magic: A quick preview

With one of the deepest benches and a top-tier defense, the Magic are building something special. Third-year star Paolo Banchero has already shown flashes of MVP-level potential, making it clear that this team is on the verge of a breakthrough. They …

With one of the deepest benches and a top-tier defense, the Magic are building something special. Third-year star Paolo Banchero has already shown flashes of MVP-level potential, making it clear that this team is on the verge of a breakthrough. They may be one year away from taking that next big step, though. In a stacked Eastern Conference, they’ll be fighting for the sixth seed, but even if things don’t go perfectly, they’re almost certain to make the playoffs through the play-in tournament.

After a surprise finish last year, breaking their playoff drought and securing a Top 5 seed in the East, the Magic solidified their roster for the 2024-25 season. Their big offseason move was signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three-year, $66 million contract. Caldwell-Pope is a high-level defender and one of the league’s most durable players, having played in 96 percent of regular-season games since 2013. His toughness and experience add a valuable veteran presence to this young roster.

Orlando also prioritized continuity, re-signing key free agents like Goga Bitadze, Gary Harris, and Moritz Wagner, while renegotiating Jonathan Isaac’s deal. Meanwhile, young talents Jett Howard and Anthony Black are ready to step up. Although they didn’t play major roles last season, both are brimming with potential and could be key to the Magic’s next leap.

Former Duke basketball star signs multi-year NBA contract extension

The Orlando Magic and former Duke basketball star Wendell Carter Jr. agreed to a multi-year extension on Monday, per reports.

It seems like former Duke basketball star Wendell Carter Jr. won’t be leaving Orlando any time soon.

According to a Monday night report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Orlando Magic signed Carter to a three-year extension that keeps him with the franchise through the 2028-29 season. Charania reported that the new deal is worth $59 million.

Carter, who turned 25 years old earlier this year, will begin his seventh NBA season later this year. The Chicago Bulls drafted him with the seventh overall pick in 2018, but after two and a half years in the Windy City, he was traded to the Magic midway through the 2020-21 campaign.

He and fellow Duke basketball alum [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag] teamed to lead the Magic to the playoffs last season, the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2020. Carter averaged 11.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 25.6 minutes per game.

During his lone Duke basketball season in 2017-18, the 6-foot-10 center averaged 13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game.

Rockets’ Reed Sheppard selected to win Rookie of the Year by executives in ESPN poll

Rockets guard Reed Sheppard was voted the top choice to win Rookie of the Year by executives and scouts in a poll conducted by ESPN.

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard was voted the top choice to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award by a panel of executives and scouts in a poll conducted by ESPN.

The 20 individuals polled were asked a number of questions about the incoming rookie class, such as the best player and the biggest steal of the draft. They were also asked about the draft expanding to a two-day format, which received a positive reaction.

Sheppard received seven votes from the panel, while Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey garnered four votes and San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle had three votes.

Who’s your NBA Rookie of the Year pick?

  1. Reed Sheppard, Rockets: 7 votes
  2. Zach Edey, Grizzlies: 4
  3. Stephon Castle, Spurs: 3
  4. Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers: 2
  5. Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks: 1
  6. Ron Holland II, Pistons: 1
  7. Dalton Knecht, Lakers: 1
  8. Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic: 1

Sheppard debuted with the Rockets in the NBA Summer League, averaging 20 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocked shots on 50% shooting from the field in four games. He was named to the NBA All-Summer League first team and finished ninth in scoring.

The third pick is second in odds to win Rookie of the Year, narrowly trailing only Risacher. He looked to be one of the top rookies on the court in the desert and proved himself as a high draft pick in a small sample size with the Rockets.

The odds will certainly continue to fluctuate over the course of the upcoming season, which tips off on Oct. 25. However, Sheppard and the rest of the players on the list established themselves as the top players thus far and should be in store for strong rookie campaigns.

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Tristan da Silva scores 13 points, helps Magic win in summer league debut

Tristan da Silva scored in double figures to help the Magic defeat the Cavaliers on Friday in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tristan da Silva scored in double figures to help the Orlando Magic defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Da Silva produced 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal in the 106-79 victory at the Pavilion. He finished by shooting 3-of-5 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line in 23 minutes of action in his debut.

The 18th pick was decisive in his first minutes with the Magic and looked to shoot the ball with confidence. He also had some nice defensive sequences against the Cavaliers and finished plus-31 on the court, tied for the second-best mark on the team.

Da Silva was highly touted entering the NBA draft for his ability to score on offense and defend on the other end of the floor. The Magic were also enamored with his positional size, basketball IQ and character off of the court.

Performances in summer league are often taken with a grain of salt but da Silva showed that he belonged on the court. He should have the opportunity to compete for rotation minutes and provide the Magic with some much-needed floor spacing and defense.

The Magic and da Silva return to action on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second of at least five games in the desert. He will look to build upon a solid debut performance and help the Magic alongside roster players Anthony Black and Jett Howard.

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Magic sign 18th pick Tristan da Silva to rookie-scale contract

Former Colorado forward Tristan da Silva, the 18th pick in the draft, signed his rookie-scale contract with the Magic on Saturday.

Former Colorado forward Tristan da Silva, the 18th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed his rookie-scale contract with the Orlando Magic on Saturday, the team announced.

He will make $3,023,700 next season as the 18th pick.

Da Silva was named to the All-Pac-12 second team after averaging a career-high 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals on 39.5% shooting from 3-point range as a senior. He registered nine 20-point games, including a season-high 27 points and 11 rebounds on March 3.

The 6-foot-9 forward helped the Buffaloes advance to the round of 32 as a play-in team. He averaged 18 points, four rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals on 56.3% shooting from beyond the arc (9-of-16) in three games in the NCAA Tournament.

Da Silva, who was born in Germany, established himself as a first-round pick with his shotmaking, ability to drive and finish and move the ball. He is a good cutter and constantly moves on offense to find open space and has shown some promise as a defender.

The 23-year-old will suit up with the Magic in the NBA Summer League beginning on July 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team will play at least five games, starting with the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Pavilion (4 p.m. EDT, NBA TV).

Joining da Silva in summer league will be roster players Anthony Black and Jett Howard, along with free agents Jarrett Culver, Théo Maledon, Xavier Moon and Jared Rhoden, among others.

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Former Georgia guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signs massive contract

Former Georgia Bulldogs basketball star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be paid over $20 million per year at his new NBA home

Former Georgia Bulldogs basketball star Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is joining the Orlando Magic on a three-year, $66 million contract. Caldwell-Pope played for the Denver Nuggets during the 2023-2024 NBA season. The Nuggets fell to Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs.

Caldwell-Pope brings championship experience to the Magic. He has won the NBA Finals twice in his career. The former Georgia star won one title with the Denver Nuggets and one with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Orlando has a young core and is looking to advance further in the NBA postseason after falling in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Last season, Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game for the Denver Nuggets. Caldwell-Pope connected on 40.6% of his three-point attempts. He provides much-needed outside shooting for the Magic.

Former Georgia star Nic Claxton signed a four-year, $100 million contract to return to the Brooklyn Nets.

Duke commit Cooper Flagg named to USA Basketball select team ahead of Paris Olympics

Duke commit Cooper Flagg is among the 15 players named to the USA Basketball select team ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Duke Blue Devils commit Cooper Flagg is among the 15 players named to the USA Basketball select team that will train with the senior national team ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Flagg, the consensus No. 1 recruit in the class of 2024, is the lone collegiate player on the roster, which will be led by Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley. He is the first collegian to participate with the select team since Doug McDermott and Marcus Smart in 2013.

The select team will practice and scrimmage daily against the senior roster July 6-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team boasts 12 current players in the NBA or G League and 10 players with USA Basketball experience at the junior and senior levels.

USA Basketball previously announced the 12-man roster for the 2024 Olympic Games with NBA All-Stars LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis and Devin Booker headlining the group.

The U.S. qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games by finishing as one of the top two teams in the Americas region of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, despite failing to medal. The group, led by Anthony Edwards, Austin Reaves and Mikal Bridges, finished fourth.

They were selected to compete in Group C. The Americans, who will be coached by Steve Kerr, Erik Spoelstra, Tyronn Lue and Mark Few, will open on July 28 against Serbia and face South Sudan on July 31 and a team still to earn a berth on Aug. 3.

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