How Desmond Bane can propel Orlando's young stars to playoffs - ESPN

Editor's note: This story was originally published on Nov. 18, 2025.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Franz Wagner had the ball in his hands and his eyes locked on Paolo Banchero.

After blowing a 13-point fourth-quarter lead to the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 10, the Orlando Magic somehow had a chance to turn a collapse into victory.

But Banchero was covered, so Wagner turned his head and found an option who wasn't there a season ago: Desmond Bane came off a screen and buried a twisting, fallaway winning 3-pointer over Toumani Camara's outstretched hand at the horn. Bane's first career buzzer-beater stunned the Blazers — and just might've jump-started the Magic's season.

Banchero lifted the guard into the air. Magic players sprinted from the bench and mobbed Bane as if the guard had just hit a winner in the NBA Finals.

It felt like a turning point.

«It just can ignite us,» Banchero said.

This shot, this moment, is why the Magic traded four unprotected first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony to pry the coveted 27-year-old shooter from the Memphis Grizzlies last summer.

After consecutive first-round exits and an injury-plagued season for the Magic, the front office pushed its chips in to go for it in an open Eastern Conference. Carrying expectations to get to the second round or better for the first time since 2011, Orlando's 1-4 start put pressure on head coach Jamahl Mosley, his staff and the players to make it work.

Frustration was palpable after a stinging 111-107 loss to the Boston Celtics on Nov. 9 that dropped the Magic to 4-6. But sitting underneath one of the Magic's practice court baskets recently, Bane was relaxed, even saying he predicted a «rocky start» to president of