One-time NBA champion Paul Pierce is one of the biggest believers of the Orlando Magic, as he expects them to make a huge jump next season, similar to Paolo Banchero’s outlook when he recently appeared on ESPN’s First Take.
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Banchero said at the time that he sees the Orlando Magic capable of becoming a Top 3 team, and Pierce agreed with his bold claim during a recent episode of the All The Smoke podcast with Kevin Garnett.
“Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and his brother, they’re young, they’re confident. Suggs down there, they’ve got a team down there,” Pierce said. “They understand how to play together, they’re going to be a problem dog. They’re the only team the last couple of years that have given the Celtics a problem out of those teams. So out of Orlando, Cavs, and Indiana, I’ll be more shook up of Orlando.”
Paul Pierce chose the Orlando Magic as the team capable of making life difficult for the Boston Celtics, while Kevin Garnett picked the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite this, the former teammates agreed to one thing: that Paolo Banchero is on his way to superstardom.
“Out of all 3 of them Paolo (Banchero) is probably the superstar, superstar, if he can reach that potential right, but you got to put some pieces with him too,” Garnett said.
Former Orlando Magic player doesn’t believe in Paolo Banchero’s superstar potential
While Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett spoke glowingly on Paolo Banchero, former Orlando Magic guard Gilbert Arenas doesn’t seem to agree, despite calling him underrated.
“He’s going to be underrated. He’s not going to get the credit that he deserves. I mean, we can just put that now. He’s not going to be the guy that you’re going to be like, ‘Oh sh*t! Paolo’ because of just the market itself,” Arenas explained on his podcast.
“Who does he remind you of? Is it like Bosh when Bosh was in Toronto?” he added.
