Magic’s Paolo Banchero sends sobering message after series loss to Pistons

Though Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero moved past a disastrous Game 6 to have a great performance in Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons, it still ended in a heartbreaking 116-94 loss. With Franz Wagner out for the Magic in Game 7, Banchero would still be honest about the state of the team after the defeat.

While Banchero would total a whopping 38 points on 14 of 25 shooting from the field, four of seven from beyond the arc, to go along with nine rebounds and six assists, the team still had a hard time covering ground on Sunday. When asked if he feels that Orlando has enough to get to the next level, Banchero was blunt about the team’s outlook.

“I mean, I can’t really answer that, you know, I want to say yes, but we haven’t been out of the first round. So, if you’re going off the last three years, the answer is no. But, the nice answer would be yes, but honestly speaking, I can’t say that we’re good enough to be in the Finals or Eastern [Conference] finals, because the last three years we’ve had the same result. So that’s your answer.”

“I can’t say that we’re good enough to be in the Finals… The last 3 years, we’ve had the same result.”

Paolo Banchero after the Magic’s blown 3-1 lead

(via @ESPNNBA) pic.twitter.com/0TRvduumIE

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 3, 2026

As mentioned, Wagner was out for the contest, but there is no denying that the Magic has dealt with disappointment all season, especially with the basketball world having high expectations for the trajectory of the team after the Desmond Bane trade.

At any rate, it remains to be seen if Banchero’s comments will motivate the franchise to make some moves this offseason after the team finished with a 45-37 record, which put them in eighth in the Eastern Conference.

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