It’s not often that a third-year player has the longest active streak of 30-point games, but Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero isn’t just anybody.
Magic’s Paolo Banchero Takes Over NBA Leaderboard
Over the past two weeks, Banchero has scored 30 or more points against five different teams, averaging 31.6 points per game in that span. The well-rounded rising star has also contributed 7.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 0.8 steals per game. The Magic have gone 3-2 in those contests, their most impressive win coming against the Los Angeles Lakers. Facing a Lakers team that has a new energy thanks to Luka Doncic‘s arrival, the Magic outscored he and LeBron James‘s team 60-46 in the second half to secure a double-digit victory.
Banchero finished the game with 30 points on 9-17 shooting from the field.
Paolo Banchero now has the longest active streak of 30-point games by any player in the NBA. pic.twitter.com/Clt3iZkVt6
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) March 28, 2025
After the game, Doncic told reporters that he and tag team partner Franz Wagner “are special players.”
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) March 25, 2025
“Just trying to stop them is very hard,” the five-time All-Star admits.
Rounding Into Form
When discussing the prototypical modern-day forward, Banchero’s skillset aligns with the criteria.
For the most part.
A three-level scorer, Banchero’s biggest weakness at the offensive end is his outside shooting. A career 32.3 percent shooter, he’s yet to have a season shooting over 34 percent from beyond the arc. This season, he’s only canned 32.8 percent of his long-balls despite taking a career-high 6.0 three-point attempts per game.
There’s hope that he can turn it around though.
Since the All-Star Break, Banchero has made 35.3 percent of his 3-pointers. This isn’t because he’s caught fire from beyond the arc during his 30-point streak. In fact, his 3-point percentage (34.4) has been lower. With that being said, he’s long looked comfortable from beyond the arc but if he can make defenders truly respect his 3-ball, it’ll take his game and team to another level.
Bully Banchero
All the same, even if teams might dare him to shoot a 3, it’s partially because they don’t want to deal with him doing anything else. Plenty of Banchero’s post-ups will lead to jumpers, with him taking 80 fadeaway and turnaround jumpers combined this season. However, he’s converted 43.8 percent of these, it’s really not a bad shot for him to take.
He’s not afraid to put his shoulder down and bully his way to the rim either. Actually, that’s one of the best parts of his game. That isn’t to say that Banchero should dramatically alter his shot diet. He’s shooting 44.6 percent from the field when he’s 10-14 away from the rim this season, his jumpers picturesque. Nevertheless, he’s shooting 48.3 percent from the field on drives.
The closer he gets to the rim, the better.
To that point, he’s shooting just 38.2 percent from the field on long twos (15-24 feet away from the rim). If he’s going to take a two-pointer anyways, he might as well get to his kill spots.
© Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
