All-Star

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Josh Cohen

INDIANAPOLIS - What a weekend it was for the Orlando Magic organization!

Paolo Banchero became the fifth player in NBA All-Star Weekend history to participate in Friday’s Rising Stars Game, at least one of the Saturday night events, and Sunday’s All-Star Game in the same year.&nbsp;

Osceola Magic star Mac McClung became the fifth player to win the slam dunk contest in back-to-back years.

Magic two-way contract player Trevelin Queen was named the MVP of the G League Next Up Game after leading Team Earn Your Leisure to a victory in the tournament’s championship game over Team BallisLife, which included fellow Magic two-way player Kevon Harris.

And Magic Gaming All-Star Joshua “unguardable” Hunter was around town, too, serving as a brand ambassador to help grow the NBA 2K League.&nbsp;

With all that representation and success, without a doubt this was one of the best All-Star Weekends in franchise history.&nbsp;

Banchero completed his action-packed weekend by recording six points, nine rebounds and five assists during the East’s 211-186 victory over the West in the 73rd&nbsp;NBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It was the first time an NBA All-Star team eclipsed 200 points.

“It was great. I’ve been smiling the whole night – for real,” he said. “This is all I was waiting for, Sunday. Just being around the fans, all these players – it was special.”&nbsp;

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Paolo Banchero's NBA All-Star Intro

What was abundantly clear throughout the weekend is that the NBA is loaded with elite talent. So much so that one could argue that we’ve never seen the league possess this many top-tier players at the same time. 

A big reason for that, as Banchero pointed out, is that the older generation of superstars, such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry, are still playing at elite levels and the younger generation of stars, including Banchero and skills challenge teammates Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama, are playing at levels beyond their ages. Then, of course, as you’d expect, several of the All-Stars that are in the prime of their careers are MVP candidates, including Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.&nbsp;

“I look at it as more like levels or tiers – guys and where they are at in their career, what they’ve done already in the league (like) championships or playoffs,” Banchero said. “The older guys have done all that stuff. There are the middle ground guys who are doing it. Then, there are the young guys who are trying to do it and are chasing it. I think it’s great for the league. It’s great for me – a young guy like me to be able to chase after these guys and try and move my way up.”

With this weekend now a wrap, Banchero can now recharge before Magic practices and games resume. At 30-25, Orlando is in eighth place in the East, but is only a ½ game back of sixth and three games back of fourth.&nbsp;

The Magic have a very “friendly” schedule the rest of the way. They play 15 of their remaining 27 games at Kia Center, and 16 of those 27 games are against teams with losing records currently.&nbsp;

Banchero and Franz Wagner have a chance to make history as well. If both average at least 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal, they will be the youngest pair of teammates to ever reach those marks in the same season.&nbsp;

“In the locker room (around other East All-Stars), we were talking about the standings and how intense it’s going to be after the break,” Banchero said. “Just ready to get back on the court, chase this playoff spot, and (I’m) excited to see everybody (back in Orlando).”

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NBA All-Star Postgame: Paolo Banchero

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Paolo Banchero Was All Smiles During First NBA All-Star Game; Orlando Magic Were Big Winners Throughout Weekend

Dan Savage

Paolo Banchero spoke to the media after the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.

Paolo Banchero takes flight for this slam during the fourth quarter of the NBA All-Star Game.

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Paolo Banchero Takes Flight at NBA All-Star

Paolo Banchero grabs the rebound and throws down a two-handed slam in the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.

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Paolo Banchero's Putback Slam

Paolo Banchero goes coast-to-coast for the two-handed slam in the NBA All-Star Game.

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Paolo Banchero's Coast-to-Coast All-Star Jam

The Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero is introduced as an NBA Eastern Conference All-Star.

INDIANAPOLIS - Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson, Nate Robinson, Zach LaVine, and now Mac McClung.Those are the only five players to ever win back-to-back slam dunk contests during NBA All-Star Weekend after the Osceola Magic star put on another spectacular show in this year’s competition at Lucas Oil Stadium.Like last year, when he was playing for the Delaware Blue Coats, all of his dunks were creative and showcased his incredible athleticism and spryness. He saved the best for last, too, with a reverse dunk while leaping over Shaquille O’Neal with the basketball Hall of Famer wearing McClung’s Gate City High School jersey. He needed an average score of 49.1 to win and defeat fellow finalist Jaylen Brown. He received a perfect score of 50.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“That was a shoutout to my hometown again. That’s what I did last year. I wanted to build on it,” said McClung, who was thrilled to get O’Neal involved, especially with the Orlando Magic legend having his No. 32 jersey raised to the rafters at Kia Center earlier this week. “Really, the thought I was thinking was don’t miss the dunk. I can’t a miss a dunk. I don’t usually miss…I’m glad the outcome happened the way it did.”

Dominique Wilkins, who was one of the five judges in this year’s event, and Harold Miner were also two-time dunk contest winners, but not consecutively. Robinson is the only three-time winner, prevailing in 2006, 2009 and 2010. 

It’s been another memorable weekend for McClung, who’s been one of the G League’s best players this season, averaging 23.7 points on 50.4 percent overall shooting and 39.3 percent 3-point shooting through 14 regular season games for Osceola. The 6-foot-2 guard also competed in the Panini Rising Stars on a team made up of only G Leaguers. They, coached by Detlef (Schrempf), upset a team in the semifinals that included Victor Wembanyama and several other young NBA stars before losing in the final to another set of up-and-coming youngsters.

“It’s so cool, man,” McClung said about how special it was this weekend to represent the Magic organization. “I feel lucky. I don’t really know how to explain it. I’ve really enjoyed this organization. The GMs, from top to bottom, have been incredible and so hands on. They sent such a big staff just to help me, and I’m very appreciative of that.”

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Mac McClung Wins the 2024 Slam Dunk Contest

In a rare instance, All-Star Paolo Banchero was part of an undercard on Saturday night.&nbsp;

The 21-year-old, who’s been getting praised left and right by others throughout the weekend, including Wembanyama and fellow Eastern Conference All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Bam Adebayo, competed in the 2024 Kia Skills Challenge.

Banchero was part of a team that also included fellow No. 1 overall draft picks Anthony Edwards and Wembanyama. Although his squad didn’t win the event, which tested each participant’s dribbling, passing and shooting, the Orlando Magic forward enjoyed the experience.

“All of us is next up in the league, and this is a chance for us to get ourselves in front of the world and show what we can do,” said Banchero, who also participated in the skills challenge as a rookie, although last year’s event had different rules and a much different format.&nbsp;

The winners of the competition were a trio of Indiana Pacers (Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin). The other team was made up of a trio of All-Stars (Tyrese Maxey, Trae Young and Scottie Barnes).

Friday night, following the Panini Rising Stars, Wembanyama said he thinks Banchero is underrated and not talked about enough. While Banchero isn’t after the spotlight, he admits that sometimes through his journey he has felt a bit snubbed. Perhaps that’s starting to change, however, with him now an All-Star and the leader of a team that is 30-25 and right there in the playoff mix.&nbsp;

“I still went No. 1, (won) Rookie of the Year, so I can’t complain too much,” he said. “As a competitor, as a player, you do always feel slighted in a way sometimes. But I don’t let it get to my head too much. I try to go out there and put on a show every night.”

Tatum, who first got to know Banchero when the now Magic forward was at Duke, has been extremely impressed by what he’s seen from him.

“He’s just a great person, great kid, works extremely hard,” the Boston Celtics five-time All-Star said. “Obviously, only in his second year and already an All-Star. So, the work is there, the talent is there for sure. So, I’m excited to see where he takes it. (I) couldn’t be happier for him. This is only the beginning for him.”

Adebayo spoke similarly about Banchero, adding in that, from what he’s seen, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley is making a big difference on Banchero’s development and confidence.&nbsp;

“Paolo has a lot of talent, and he’s got a coach that’s giving him no restrictions,” the Miami Heat three-time All-Star said. “He wants him to explore his game. He wants him to be aggressive. He wants him to play hard, and he wants him to figure out how to win on his own with help along the way. He’s going to be a great one. He’s going to be a great leader for his team and a great player in this league.”

Among the many interesting things Banchero said during his talk with media was that his favorite moment of a game is seeing who the other team decides to have defend him right after the opening tip. Obviously, with him being a No. 1 option on the Magic, the game’s top defenders are placed in front of him on a nightly basis. But also, he has to face double teams, triple teams and blitzes throughout games.&nbsp;

Banchero will have another opportunity to showcase his skills on a grand stage on Sunday in his first NBA All-Star Game appearance.

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Mac McClung Wins Second Straight AT&T Slam Dunk Contest

Mac McClung spoke to the media after winning the 2024 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest.

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Mac McClung on Winning the Slam Dunk Contest

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We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

Due to Tropical Storm Nicole, the NBA has announced that the Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic game on Wednesday, November 9 will tip-off at 5:30 PM. Amway Center doors open at 4:30 PM.

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