For the first time in over a decade, the Orlando Magic are entering a season where multiple All-Star selections feel like a realistic possibility.
Bleacher Reportâs recent list of projected first-time All-Stars included five names, but two of them stood out for Orlando: Franz Wagner and newly acquired guard Desmond Bane.
Add Paolo Banchero, already recognized as one of the NBAâs rising stars, and the Magic suddenly have a path toward putting three players on the All-Star stage.
Franz Wagnerâs International Advantage
Wagnerâs case is unique because of the NBAâs revamped All-Star format. With three squads nowâTeam USA, Team World, and Team NextâWagner benefits from his international roots.
The German forward, who helped lead his country to the 2023 EuroBasket title, doesnât need to outduel every elite forward in the league. Instead, he only has to establish himself as one of the 8â12 best international players.
Thatâs still no easy feat with names like Luka DonÄiÄ, Nikola JokiÄ, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the mix, but itâs far more achievable than trying to break through in the crowded American forward pool that includes LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Jimmy Butler.
His production already speaks for itself. Before an injury derailed his early-season surge, Wagner posted career highs across the board: 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Those numbers hinted at All-NBA potential, not just All-Star consideration. With a clean bill of health, Wagner feels like a lock for Team World if Orlando maintains relevance in the standings.
The Bane Effect
While Wagnerâs advantage is structural, Baneâs path hinges on impact. Orlando has long been hamstrung by poor spacing and subpar shooting, finishing in the bottom six of offensive rating last season and ranking among the NBAâs worst three-point shooting teams.
Enter Baneâa career 41.0% shooter from deep who has steadily improved as a playmaker and scorer since breaking out with the Memphis Grizzlies.
In the Western Conference, Baneâs chances of making the All-Star Game were slim at best. He was competing with Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, and even his former teammate Ja Morant just to sniff a reserve spot.
The East, by contrast, offers a much clearer lane. If Orlando climbs into the top four in the conference standings, the narrative of Bane sparking their offensive turnaroundâthe âBane Effectââbecomes too strong to ignore.
A Potential Trio
Banchero is already penciled in as an All-Star contender. ESPN ranked him 17th on its preseason top-20 list, and his status as Orlandoâs franchise cornerstone makes his selection feel inevitable if the team delivers. Add Wagnerâs international track and Baneâs offensive boost, and the Magic could realistically send three players to the All-Star Game.
That wouldnât be unprecedented. Just last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers saw Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley all earn All-Star nods. For Orlando, the leap would be more symbolic: proof that the franchise has officially transitioned from lottery team to Eastern Conference powerhouse.
The All-Star Game is often about storylines as much as stats. For Orlando, 2025â26 might just be the year their story shifts from rebuilding to arrivalâon the strength of three All-Stars leading the way.
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