Perkins Rips Magic Star Banchero Amid Mosley Struggles

Kendrick Perkins criticizes Paolo Banchero's leadership and effort as Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley's job is in jeopardy.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:04am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the action of a basketball game, with players and the court broken down into sharp, angular geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the emotional turmoil and dysfunction within the Orlando Magic team.Perkins' criticism of Banchero exposes the tensions within the struggling Magic organization.Today in Miami

Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins has strongly criticized Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero, saying Banchero has 'thrown coach Jamahl Mosley under the bus' and that the team has 'quit' on Mosley amid the Magic's struggles this season. The Magic currently hold the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 40-36 record, and Perkins believes Banchero's inconsistent play and lack of leadership is a major factor in the team's issues.

Why it matters

The Magic were expected to take a step forward this season after retooling their roster, but have instead regressed, putting Mosley's job in jeopardy. Perkins' public criticism of Banchero, one of the league's rising young stars, highlights the growing tensions within the organization and the pressure on the team to turn things around.

The details

Perkins called out Banchero for repeatedly 'throwing his coach under the bus' in post-game interviews, suggesting the 22-year-old forward does not want to play for Mosley. Perkins said Banchero has been 'inconsistent' this season after a strong playoff run last year, and that his poor leadership and effort is a major reason the Magic have 'quit' on Mosley.

  • The Magic have lost 8 of their last 10 games, putting them in the 9th seed in the Eastern Conference.
  • Perkins made his comments on the April 2nd episode of ESPN's NBA Today show.

The players

Kendrick Perkins

A former NBA player who is now an analyst for ESPN.

Paolo Banchero

The star forward for the Orlando Magic, who was the 1st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Jamahl Mosley

The head coach of the Orlando Magic, who is facing increasing pressure amid the team's struggles this season.

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What they’re saying

“The biggest issue is that the Orlando Magic has quit on Jamahl Mosley. If we go back against that game where they played Toronto a few nights ago, how embarrassing that was. And it starts with Paulo Banchero, right? It starts from the top. How many times this season has he come out publicly, post-game interview, and has threw his coach under the damn bus? He obviously don't want to play for Jamahl Mosley, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's fired. Does he? Does he deserve to lose his job? Hell no.”

— Kendrick Perkins, ESPN Analyst

“Paolo Banchero has to play better. Paolo Banchero has to be a better leader. That is the problem. He's been inconsistent, if you ask me. He has taken steps back at the beginning of the season after the postseason run he had last season.”

— Kendrick Perkins, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Magic will continue preparations for their upcoming matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on April 3rd, as they look to turn things around and save Jamahl Mosley's job.

The takeaway

Kendrick Perkins' scathing criticism of Paolo Banchero's leadership and effort highlights the growing dysfunction within the Orlando Magic organization. With the team struggling to meet expectations, the pressure is on Banchero and the rest of the roster to step up and save Mosley's job as head coach.