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After the acquisition of Desmond Bane this summer, the Orlando Magic are being considered as a top contender in the Eastern Conference with a chance at having three All-Stars with the trio of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Bane all primed for breakout seasons.
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 Report’s 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 NBA’s rising stars, and the Magic suddenly have a path toward putting three players on the All-Star stage.
Franz Wagner’s International Advantage
Wagner’s case is unique because of the NBA’s revamped All-Star format. With three squads now—Team USA, Team World, and Team Next—Wagner benefits from his international roots.
The German forward, who helped lead his country to the 2023 EuroBasket title, doesn’t need to outduel every elite forward in the league. Instead, he only has to establish himself as one of the 8–12 best international players.
That’s still no easy feat with names like Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the mix, but it’s 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 Wagner’s advantage is structural, Bane’s 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 NBA’s worst three-point shooting teams.
Enter Bane—a 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, Bane’s 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 turnaround—the “Bane Effect”—becomes 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 Orlando’s franchise cornerstone makes his selection feel inevitable if the team delivers. Add Wagner’s international track and Bane’s offensive boost, and the Magic could realistically send three players to the All-Star Game.
That wouldn’t 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, 2025–26 might just be the year their story shifts from rebuilding to arrival—on the strength of three All-Stars leading the way.
Jalon Dixon Jalon Dixon is a multi-platform sports journalist and content creator specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage. He blends writing, podcasting, and video analysis to deliver accessible, in-depth perspectives on basketball and beyond. More about Jalon Dixon
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