{"id":93890,"date":"2026-03-12T00:04:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T03:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/orlando-magic-forward-paolo-banchero-finds-motivation-in-missing-nba-all-star-game\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T00:04:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T03:04:38","slug":"orlando-magic-forward-paolo-banchero-finds-motivation-in-missing-nba-all-star-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/orlando-magic-forward-paolo-banchero-finds-motivation-in-missing-nba-all-star-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero finds motivation in missing NBA All-Star Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

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With time to reflect, Paolo Banchero<\/a> reached a conclusion as to why he was resting on a beach in the Bahamas last month rather than playing in the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Banchero didn\u2019t point fingers at the NBA\u2019s Eastern Conference coaches for not selecting him as a reserve. The 2023-24 NBA All-Star also wasn\u2019t frustrated with commissioner Adam Silver for not making him an All-Star replacement.<\/p>\n

Rather, the Orlando Magic<\/a> forward blamed himself and used it as motivation to play like one of the NBA\u2019s elite since regular-season play resumed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always honest with myself,\u201d Banchero told Andscape. \u201cI looked in the mirror first. Over the All-Star break, I watched a lot of film over the early part of the season. I just wasn\u2019t happy with what I put out. Some of that had to do with me being injured and coming back. \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI could\u2019ve had a better mindset, and that was part of it. But I know I\u2019m an All-Star in this league. My confidence is still the same. It\u2019s about being honest with yourself and realizing that you didn\u2019t really deserve to be an All-Star, honestly. It\u2019s about taking that with a grain of salt and being better in the second half of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with being frustrated with himself, Banchero added that he was \u201cfrustrated with the overall state of the team\u201d during the first half of the season.<\/p>\n

Banchero averaged 21.3 points on 45.4% shooting from the field, 8.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 43 appearances prior to the All-Star break. The Magic\u2019s first-half record, however, didn\u2019t help Banchero\u2019s cause \u2014 they opened 1-4 before landing at 28-25 at the break. Injuries have also unquestionably played a role in the Magic\u2019s struggles, as Banchero and fellow starters Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs have each missed significant time. <\/p>\n

Banchero, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick, missed 10 games with a left groin strain suffered in early December, yet blamed himself for the Magic\u2019s slow start.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a team, we didn\u2019t really find a rhythm at the start of the year,\u201d Banchero said. \u201cSome of that had to do with me being injured and coming back. Just frustrating in that aspect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (left) on playing defense against some of the best scorers in the league, including Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (right): \u201cIt\u2019s me accepting the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mike Watters-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since his All-Star Weekend vacation to the Bahamas, however, the 6-foot-10 forward has been one of the best players in the NBA on both ends of the floor, helping the Magic rise up the standings.<\/p>\n

Banchero has averaged 26.2 points (50.8% shooting), 9.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 10 games after the All-Star break. That stretch includes four of his nine 30-point performances on the year, and he\u2019s a plus-102 in his past 14 games \u2014 in which the Magic are 10-4. Banchero entered Wednesday as one of four players (along with Boston\u2019s Jaylen Brown, Los Angeles Lakers\u2019 Luka Doncic and Denver\u2019s Nikola Jokic) averaging at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists since the All-Star break.<\/p>\n

Banchero and the Magic host the Cleveland Cavaliers in an Eastern Conference showdown tonight on ESPN (7:30 p.m. ET).<\/p>\n

\u201cPaolo has been ultra-aggressive attacking, getting early baskets.\u201d Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley told Andscape. \u201cHe\u2019s also been taking on the best player assignments defensively.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those defensive assignments for Banchero of late have included guarding All-Stars such as Doncic, Cade Cunningham, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and the best frontcourt player or big guard on any given night. In the past 16 games, the Magic have a defensive rating of 107.6, ranking fourth in the league during that span. The Magic\u2019s opponents have shot a league-worst 28.2% from 3-point range since the All-Star break.<\/p>\n