As the discourse continues to intensify that Paolo Banchero is the biggest problem with the Orlando Magic, the team’s top star offered a strong response to the claims.

The Magic head into the holidays with a solid 17-13 record and sit sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. But this is below the new standard and expectations the organization had for this season. Especially after the team made one of the biggest trades of the summer and gave up four first-round picks and a first-round swap for guard Desmond Bane.

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Last season’s 41-41 record was chalked up to a bunch of injuries to key players. The Magic were expecting to be even better than the 47-35 team from the 2023-24 season. Yet, they have struggled at times. That was until Banchero went down with an injury in the second week of November.

With Banchero sidelined, the Magic won seven of 10 and scored wins over conference leaders the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. Since his return on Dec. 5, they have gone 4-4. It’s added fuel to the narrative that they might just be a better team without the top overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Paolo Bancheo stats: 20.5 PTS, 8.5 REB, 4.5 AST, 24% 3PT

The 23-year-old was recently asked about the growing debate about his place in Orlando, and the one-time All-Star responded strongly, calling the idea “bulls***.”

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“I think that’s bull—. I’m not going to lie. People are going to say whatever they want to say about me, Franz, and whoever,” Banchero told The Athletic. “But we know that we’re at our strongest when both of us are out there on the floor. People say that the ball moves more (when only one of us is out there). I don’t think that’s true, honestly.

“I think sometimes you beat teams, or you play certain games, and it may look that way, but if you really watch and analyze, we play the same way every game, he added. “Nothing changes when somebody is out. We play the same way, especially on offense. Nothing really changes. I don’t buy too much into that, but it is frustrating to see that and hear that just because we’re at our best when both of us are out there.”

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