The Orlando Magic are hoping to break through the glass ceiling this season. The Magic are led by their young stars in 23-year-old Paolo Banchero and 24-year-old Franz Wagner. Banchero is one of the top young stars in the NBA, winning Rookie of the Year along with posting an All-Star bid during the 2023-24 season. He leads the Magic with 22.3 points per game.

Meanwhile, the German-born Wagner is a rising star himself with the 6-foot-10 big man averaging 24.2 points per game last season. Despite being limited by injuries this year, Wagner has averaged 20.5 points per game.

Orlando is currently ranked eighth in the Eastern Conference entering Wednesday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With three games left in the season, they have a chance to climb out of the play-in spot, being just a game behind the sixth-seeded Toronto Raptors. The franchise is looking to win their first playoff series since Dwight Howard was there during the 2009-10 season.

Wendell Carter Jr. has been around both players since the beginning of their careers. The veteran center is a key cog for the Magic and is averaging 12.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Carter came up with an interesting comparison for both his teammates, comparing Banchero to LeBron James — they’re similar in stature — and Wagner to the fellow German-born Dirk Nowitzki and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Paul Pierce.

“Paolo’s definitely one of a kind,” said Carter of Banchero. “6-foot-10 frame, 240, I think 250 pounds, can play one through five. If I had to compare him to someone, I think it has to be LeBron. I think that’s the only same size, yeah. I think that’s the only person I could compare him to.

“For Franz, a mixture of Dirk’s footwork with Paul Pierce’s scoring ability,” Carter continued to say. “Franz is unique too. I can’t really put my finger on who he is or who he plays like. He’s one of the highest IQ players I’ve ever played with. I don’t know that’s a good one, but I don’t know. I have to think about that one.”

While James is obviously on another level when it comes to his resume as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Banchero’s frame combined with his all-around ability — he is also averaging 8.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game — is what makes him somewhat similar in play style to James. When you combine his 6-foot-10 frame and his penchant to play the forward position, the comparison makes sense.

Carter isn’t the only one to compare Banchero to James, as former Magic star Tracy McGrady also did so during a recent interview with us. The former two-time scoring champion said Banchero should be putting up a LeBron-like stat line every night.

“Should be on LeBron status in terms of what that stat line should be looking like every single night,” said McGrady of Banchero.

He did hesitate when it came to an exact player comparison for Banchero, instead complimenting the Magic star by saying he’s one of a kind.

“No, he really doesn’t remind me of anyone,” said McGrady. “He’s 6-foot-10, bro. He’s a big dude. When I talk to him is when I’m down there, if I go see the game or something, and I’m around those guys, I have a conversation with him. But other than that, I don’t have any type of connection with him. But he’s a big dude. Man, he’s a big guy. Man, 6-10, talk about heavy and just mass. If he wanted to, he should be averaging 30 points in this league.”

The Orlando Magic are hoping to break through the glass ceiling this season. The Magic are led by their young stars in 23-year-old Paolo Banchero and 24-year-old Franz Wagner. Banchero is one of the top young stars in the NBA, winning Rookie of the Year along with posting an All-Star bid during the 2023-24 season.