Wendell Carter Jr. tips the Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero to break out in the 2025 NBA season and even find himself thrust into the Most Valuable Player conversation as the 21-year-old continues to improve.
Banchero, who is American-born but also holds Italian citizenship, averaged 22.6 points per game, 5.4 assists and 6.9 rebounds as he helped spur the Florida-based team to finishing ,573 with 47 wins in the 35th season of franchise history.
The team won the Southeast Division and finished fifth in the Eastern Conference, qualifying for the NBA Playoffs, however they were eliminated in the First Round be the Cleveland Cavaliers in a seven-game series.
For his efforts throughout the regular season, he was nominated to the All-Star game but Carter Jr., who plays alongside him with the Magic, tips the youngster to go one better in the 2024/25 season.
“He will be [an MVP candidate] for sure,” Carter Jr. told TMZ of Banchero, who enters his third season in the sport.
The ex-first round pick is currently an outsider at +50000 to take the Michael Jordan Trophy away from the likes of Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama meaning he is a long shot but there could be a lot of money if he succeeds.
Banchero, however, was very impressive in the series defeat to the Cavaliers in his first NBA Playoffs appearance as he averaged 27 points, 8.6 rebounds and four assists through the seven games as the Magic lost 4-3.
Who do the Magic play on opening night?
The Orlando Magic will start the 2024/25 NBA season on the road as they travel to the Miami Heat for an interstate clash on Wednesday, October 23. Tip-off at the Kaseya Center is expected at 19:30 ET/16:30 PT.
In the meantime, Banchero and Wendell Jr. will complete games against the New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, the Pelicans again and will finally close out preseason against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 18.
