ORLANDO - Paolo Banchero enters his fifth NBA season with the Orlando Magic having drawn more shooting fouls than any player in the league last year, while posting passing numbers that rank among the best at his position - but questions about his jump-shooting efficiency and ball security follow him into 2026-27.
Banchero drew a league-most 300 shooting fouls last season, a figure that underscores his ability to get downhill and punish defenders inside. His kickout passing from the paint generated 109 attempts for teammates, who converted just under 40 percent from 3-point range off those passes. On cuts, teammates made 74.6 percent of shots when Banchero delivered the pass.
“What we know about Paolo is that he’s one of the best at drawing fouls,” analyst Josh Cohen wrote in an Orlando Magic feature published Monday. The piece, which does not reflect the views of the Magic’s basketball operations staff, raised the question of whether Banchero could emerge as “the game’s premier playmaking power forward” in year five.
The individual passing numbers back up the case. Anthony Black shot 18-of-36 - 50 percent - on 3-point attempts when Banchero delivered the pass. Desmond Bane connected on 15-of-32, a 46.9 percent clip. Franz Wagner made six of his seven 3-point attempts when Banchero was the passer.
One underreported element from last season: Banchero shot 40.8 percent on 81 stationary catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts. Over the last two seasons combined, he has made 41 percent of 139 such attempts - a mark that compares favorably to league averages for forwards.
The concern is his pull-up and step-back shooting. “Last year, he struggled with his pull-up and step-back shooting - from the mid-range out to beyond the arc,” Cohen wrote. Turnovers were also flagged as an area needing improvement heading into the new season.
Historical precedent offers reason for optimism in Orlando. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson each made their leap from good to elite in their fifth NBA seasons. Kevin Garnett and Kawhi Leonard both finished second in MVP voting in their respective fifth years. Allen Iverson won the MVP award outright in his fifth season. The Magic open the 2026-27 regular season this fall.