The Orlando Magic are once again one of the NBA’s most entertaining teams. The atmosphere isn’t quite as electric as the days that they had Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway. However, the confidence in their ability to succeed is reminiscent of their Dwight Howard Era, which saw them earning their first ever trip to the NBA Finals since Shaq was wearing pinstripes.
With that in mind, the Magic have three burning questions as they prepare for the 2025-26 season.
3 Burning Questions For Magic Heading Into 2025-26 Season
Can They Get Back On Track?
2023-24 was a pivotal season for the Magic. Three years prior, they made the decision to trade former franchise keystone Aaron Gordon, sending the tweener forward to the Denver Nuggets. Though Gordon’s shooting limitations had seemingly prevented Orlando from getting over the hump, they were certainly a worse team without him. Over the next two seasons, they won just 43 total games.
Then they landed the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, using it to select versatile Duke forward Paolo Banchero. In his rookie season, the Magic won 34 games. While the team’s most efficient scorer was 2021 No. 8 pick Franz Wagner, they looked much more effective with Banchero as the offensive fulcrum. All the while, they had established themselves as one of the league’s most formidable defenses. So, when they won 47 games in 2023-34 and clinched a playoff berth, it was somewhat surprising but in line with their trajectory.
An old adage is that availability is said to be the best ability. With that being said, Wagner missed 22 games last season. Banchero missed 36 games. 2021 No. 5 pick Jalen Suggs, who spearheads the defense from the point guard position, missed 47 games. As a result, Orlando had to claw their way to 41 wins and a playoff berth.
In 2025-26, the question is if those three can stay healthy enough for their wins to trend back up.
What Will Desmond Bane Provide
Next season, the Magic will have Desmond Bane, who they traded for in July. The 27-year-old wing has averaged 20.2 points per game on 40.7 percent from 3 over the past four seasons while playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. As Orlando has prioritized Banchero and Wagner’s scoring, it’s possible that he won’t be able to leave as large a dent as he’d like at that end. However, in Bane’s time with the Grizzlies, he played alongside two other 20-plus per game scorers in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant.
Thus, his numbers probably will translate for the most part.
For the Magic, that can be magic, as he addresses their two biggest offensive weaknesses. The most glaring one has been their 3-point shooting. In fact, the last time that they didn’t rank in the bottom-third of 3-point percentage was 2018-19. Their other issue is that they’re a bit too reliant on Banchero and Wagner’s scoring, with Suggs firepower flickering in and out.
Will Any Of Their Young Players Make The Jump?
Banchero, Wagner and Suggs haven’t been the Magic’s only promising young players, with 2023 No. 6 pick Anthony Black and 2024 No. 18 pick Tristan Da Silva in that group as well. Black, a 6-foot-7 playmaker, has been an elite perimeter defender since Day 1. However, he hasn’t always been able to step up offensively. Alternately, Da Silva is effective at both ends but not elite in any one area.
If either player can make a jump from where they were last season, Orlando will be much more difficult to beat.
Keep in mind that they also have crafty guard Jase Richardson, who they drafted with the 2025 first-round pick they landed from the Gordon trade. He and draft classmate Noah Penda averaged 27.8 points and 5.5 assists per game combined in the 2026 Summer League, looking the part of second unit spark plugs.
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