According to NBA reporter Grant Afseth of RG, there is a “growing disconnect” between Paolo Banchero and Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley.
The Magic are 5-6 on the season. They made a blockbuster trade in the offseason, acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mosley is the only coach Banchero has played for in the NBA.
“According to RG sources, there is a ‘growing disconnect’ between franchise cornerstone Paolo Banchero and head coach Jamahl Mosley,” Afseth wrote. “The source described communication between the two as strained, adding that members of the organization have grown concerned about Banchero’s level of engagement with his coach during games.
“Sources familiar with the situation said communication between Banchero and Mosley has become almost non-existent during timeouts, and the star forward often avoids eye contact when the coach addresses the team in huddles. ‘This is what a team looks like when a coach loses the locker room,’ one source said. ‘He needs to figure it out fast. This is on track to go from being the fun young team that has a lot of potential to being the disappointment that gets the coach fired.’”
The Magic are 24th in the NBA in points per game, fourth in points per game allowed, 22nd in offensive rating, second in defensive rating and 15th in net rating.
Banchero, the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is averaging 23.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game this season while shooting 46.6% from the field, 25.0% from beyond the arc and 76.1% from the free-throw line.
The Magic signed Banchero to a five-year, $240 million extension in July. Banchero, 22, has career averages of 22.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
Orlando hired Mosley in 2021. Mosley is 149-190 in the regular season and 4-8 in the playoffs with the Magic.