Paolo Banchero Praises Raptors Star as Ideal Teammate

The Orlando Magic forward sees Scottie Barnes as the perfect running mate on the court.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:35am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the forms of basketball players in motion, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of vibrant colors representing the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors.Banchero's admiration for Barnes' well-rounded game reflects the growing trend of NBA stars openly praising their peers across the league.Today in Orlando

Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero has expressed his admiration for Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, calling him an ideal teammate that he would love to play with. Banchero praised Barnes' well-rounded game and ability to impact the game without needing to score, saying he's 'a winning player' that he views as a perfect fit alongside him.

Why it matters

Banchero's comments about wanting to play with Barnes could be seen as a form of tampering, though the Magic forward avoided directly stating he wants a trade. The relationship between Banchero and Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley has also reportedly become strained, adding to the uncertainty around the team's future.

The details

After the Magic were blown out by the Raptors, Banchero explained why he views the versatile Barnes as his perfect running mate. 'That's a guy you would love to play with, just off the strength of how he contributes to his team. He's not really ever caught up in the scoring. He's always trying to look to find others, guards at a high level, picks up full court,' Banchero said. The 24-year-old added that Barnes 'has always been a super impactful player' in his eyes due to the winning plays he makes.

  • The comments came after the Magic's loss to the Raptors on March 30, 2026.

The players

Paolo Banchero

The 24-year-old star forward for the Orlando Magic, who is currently in the second year of a $200 million contract.

Scottie Barnes

The versatile 23-year-old forward for the Toronto Raptors, who is considered one of the league's rising two-way stars.

Jamahl Mosley

The head coach of the Orlando Magic, who is reportedly at odds with Banchero.

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What they’re saying

“'That's a guy you would love to play with, just off the strength of how he contributes to his team. He's not really ever caught up in the scoring. He's always trying to look to find others, guards at a high level, picks up full court.'”

— Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic Forward

“'[Barnes] has always been a super impactful player in my eyes in terms of the stuff he does for the team. He's just a winning player.'”

— Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic Forward

What’s next

It remains to be seen if the Magic will explore trading for Scottie Barnes or if Banchero's comments will be viewed as tampering. The team's focus will also be on resolving the reported rift between Banchero and head coach Jamahl Mosley before the playoffs.

The takeaway

Banchero's high praise for Scottie Barnes as an ideal teammate highlights the young star's desire to play alongside another rising two-way talent. While the comments could be seen as tampering, they also reflect the growing trend of NBA players openly admiring their peers across the league. The Magic's ability to address the internal discord between their star player and head coach will be crucial to their postseason hopes.