It’s one thing to climb a mountain. It’s another thing to do it with ankle weights on. That’s what Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic are staring at this season, even if nobody’s really talking about it yet. On paper, they’re young, they’re dangerous, and arguably, they’re ready to break through. But there’s a catch.

The Magic will travel more miles than any other NBA team in 2025-26. And not just by a little. By a staggering 55,140 miles. That’s five figures worth of wear and tear, hovering over a roster that’s supposed to make a leap. Travel isn’t sexy. It’s not a highlight on League Pass. But it’s the hidden tax on every contender, and the Magic are staring at the steepest bill.

While Houston, Oklahoma City, and even San Antonio are being spotlighted as breakout darlings, Orlando has become a trendy dark horse in its own right. ESPN’s Summer Forecast even lumped them in with teams expected to take the next step, noting their chance to advance past the first round for the first time since 2010. That’s the good news. The bad news?

They’ll be racking up mileage like airline platinum members just to keep pace. Studies have shown that extensive travel translates to sluggish legs, compromised recovery, and a higher chance of nagging injuries. Back in 2017, even the Warriors’ then assistant general manager Kirk Lacob touched down on the topic.

He urged, “Travel and sleep are just destroying these athletes, and I think that’s what the NBA really needs to think about… And they are [thinking about it], but the reality is when you travel four times a week, and you’re on a plane that long right after you played, it’s not a good recovery period at all for the body being up in the air like that, and in a chair. It’s not good.”

Stack more than 55,000 miles on top of an 82-game grind, and suddenly even the deepest rosters start to thin out. For a young core like the Orlando Magic’s, it’s the kind of logistical hurdle that could bend an entire season’s arc. Paolo Banchero knows something about arcs. His career trajectory has been rising ever since he stepped into the league. Last year, he averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, cementing his status as the face of the franchise.

He’s locked in on a 5-year rookie max extension, which means Orlando isn’t just hoping for a breakthrough, but they’re also expecting one. But here’s the complication: Paolo has never endured a season this physically taxing. None of them has. Franz Wagner will be asked to shoulder even more creation, Jalen Suggs will be chasing guards coast-to-coast, and Wendell Carter Jr. will have to bang with bigs night after night, all while constantly packing and unpacking. These are the things that test chemistry, rotations, and the patience of coaching staffs. And it comes at a time when the Magic can least afford hiccups.

Paolo Banchero is in an overlooked reality

The East is stacked. Milwaukee still has Giannis. Boston is hunting a repeat. Cleveland and New York are deeper. Even Miami and Atlanta lurk with playoff-tested rosters. Orlando is supposed to join that group. But with their travel itinerary, they’re starting the race with a weight vest. But for all the logistical challenges, everything still comes back to Paolo.

He’s the reason Orlando is relevant, the reason insiders believe this team has staying power, and the reason opponents are circling them on the calendar. He’s a point-forward with enough skill to dictate pace and bend defenses. But there’s a question hanging in the air: how much more can he carry?

The franchise has done well to insulate him with Wagner’s shot creation, acquiring Tyus Jones, and Suggs’ defensive chops. They’ve invested in depth, leaning into Jonathan Isaac as a wildcard. Still, Paolo is the centerpiece. And if 55,000 miles turn into extra wear on his legs, the Magic’s entire blueprint looks shakier. The timing also matters here.

Paolo’s deal escalates in 2026-27, meaning Orlando’s window to build around him on a cheaper number is closing. Every season before then matters. Which is why this travel issue is a potential spoiler for a team that can’t afford wasted years. ESPN’s forecasters have already baked in optimism, slotting Orlando as a team with genuine upside. Michael C. Wright pointed to them as a group “looking to advance past the first round for the first time since 2009-10.” That’s not nothing.

It’s rarefied air for a franchise that’s been more lottery-bound than playoff-tested for the past decade. But for Paolo and company to get there, they’ll need more than talent. They’ll need resilience. And resilience doesn’t travel well when your itinerary looks like a rock band’s world tour.

It’s easy to look at Orlando’s ceiling and imagine them as the next Oklahoma City – young, brash, ahead of schedule. The difference? OKC will travel 42,234 miles this year. That’s nearly 13,000 fewer than Orlando. Put simply, one of these young cores gets a little more rest, recovery, and a little more room to grow. The other gets turbulence, layovers, and a ticking clock. Nobody’s saying Paolo Banchero can’t handle it.

He’s built for the spotlight. But as the season stretches on and Orlando chases its first second-round berth in 16 years, keep an eye on the quiet number at the bottom of the box score: miles travelled. Because no matter how many points Paolo drops, or how many highlight passes Franz delivers, the Magic will be battling exhaustion itself.

In the end, 55,140 might not just be a number. It might be the very thing that decides whether Orlando is a true contender, or just another young team that looked ready until reality caught up with them mid-flight.