The Orlando Magic are firmly committed to pursuing a playoff berth this season, refusing to enter tanking mode. With just under 30 games remaining in the 2025-26 NBA season, the team holds a 28-25 record, placing them seventh in the Eastern Conference. Complicating their quest for a high draft pick, Orlando’s first-round pick has already been traded to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Desmond Bane trade, further intensifying their focus on making a playoff push.
Initially, fans had high hopes for this season; the momentum following the acquisition of Bane generated expectations of a successful run that could yield 49 to 51 wins in a highly competitive Eastern Conference. However, the reality has been a struggle, with the Magic often found hovering near the Play-In tournament.
A significant concern for the team is the underperformance of star player Paolo Banchero. According to Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, Banchero’s season has not progressed as anticipated. While expectations were for him to elevate his game, he is instead recording his lowest average points and effective field-goal percentage since his rookie year, raising questions about his fitness as a key offensive player.
Statistically, Banchero is averaging 21.3 points per game this season, a decrease from 25.9 last year, and his clutch true shooting percentage has taken a dive from 57.3% last season to just 34% this year. His trajectory has been further impacted by injury; he missed ten games earlier this season due to a groin strain. Although he’s been contributing to box scores in January with numbers like 24.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, these performances have been marred by inconsistency.
Coaching evaluations have pointed to physical limitations affecting Banchero’s play, citing a noticeable lack of mobility. An Eastern Conference assistant coach commented that while the team aimed to have him play more as an interior scorer, this approach might limit his versatility—something that could hinder both his and the team’s potential.
Banchero’s own reflections on the team’s offensive challenges suggest frustration, indicating that he does not believe the offense is functioning as it should. This sentiment adds weight to growing concerns about the effectiveness of the team’s offensive system.
The Magic’s upcoming games against teams like the Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and the LA Clippers will serve as a critical assessment of their playoff aspirations. At just 1.5 games behind the sixth-place Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando still has a chance to secure a playoff spot without entering the Play-In tournament.
Guard Jalen Suggs remains optimistic, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to navigate their ups and downs this season. Although the current record is not disastrous, there remains a shared understanding that the Magic entered this season with the hope of a significant leap forward, not merely maintaining the status quo.
As the final stretch approaches, the next 30 games will be pivotal for the Magic. With no incentive to fall back into the lottery and significant pressure on Banchero to return to form, this season’s outcome could determine whether it is viewed as a promising step forward or a cautionary tale for the franchise’s future ambitions in the competitive Eastern Conference landscape.