Orlando Magic Lean Heavily on Duke One-and-Dones as Former Blue Devils Anchor Team’s Core and Elevate Championship Aspirations
The Orlando Magic, one of the NBA’s most exciting young teams, are turning heads not just for their talent but for the distinct college pedigree that’s shaping their future. In what might feel like a tribute to Duke University’s one-and-done era, three former Blue Devils — all of whom spent just one season in Durham — are now firmly entrenched in Orlando’s projected rotation for the 2025–26 season. It’s more than a coincidence. It’s a sign that the Magic’s long rebuild is paying dividends, and that Duke’s modern pipeline continues to flood the NBA with players ready to make an immediate impact.
Among those headlining this Duke reunion in Orlando are Paolo Banchero, the 2022 No. 1 overall pick; Mark Williams, a dominant interior presence drafted by Charlotte in 2022 and acquired via trade; and rookie guard Tyrese Proctor, the most recent lottery pick by the Magic in the 2025 NBA Draft. Together, they form a nucleus that’s not only helping shape the Magic’s identity but also elevating expectations for a team that was once stuck in perpetual lottery limbo.
It starts with Banchero. Now entering his fourth season, the 6-foot-10 forward has blossomed into the face of the franchise. In 2024–25, Banchero averaged 22.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while earning his first All-Star selection. His game is a unique blend of power, finesse, and basketball IQ — a reflection of the foundational skills he developed during his lone season at Duke. Banchero’s ability to play both forward spots, initiate offense, and defend multiple positions has made him one of the NBA’s most versatile young stars. In Orlando, he’s not just the leading scorer — he’s the tone-setter.
What makes Banchero’s trajectory so compelling is how seamlessly he’s evolved with the team around him. Drafted into a situation with minimal expectations, he quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff and front office with his professionalism and leadership. His development into a nightly 20-plus point scorer has given Orlando a consistent offensive anchor — a luxury few rebuilding teams possess. And with the addition of more talent around him, his responsibilities have shifted from carrying the load to orchestrating it.
One of the newest pieces in that orchestration is Tyrese Proctor, a skilled combo guard who emerged as one of the most NBA-ready players in the 2025 class. At Duke, Proctor was a maestro in the pick-and-roll, showcasing a mature feel for tempo, decision-making, and floor spacing. His ability to knock down shots off the dribble and defend at a high level made him a priority for several teams — but it was Orlando that saw the perfect fit.
Selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Proctor enters the rotation as a key contributor in the backcourt, capable of playing both on and off the ball. The Magic envision him complementing incumbent guards with his playmaking and defensive flexibility. In summer workouts and early training camp sessions, Proctor has reportedly impressed with his poise and shot-making, drawing comparisons to Malcolm Brogdon and CJ McCollum for his cerebral approach and midrange craft.
Unlike many rookies, Proctor benefits from joining a team that already has a stable core and clearly defined roles. With Banchero leading the frontcourt and veterans like Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs anchoring the wings, Proctor can ease into responsibilities while gradually expanding his impact. And with head coach Jamahl Mosley emphasizing ball movement and defensive discipline, Proctor’s well-rounded game aligns perfectly with Orlando’s system.
Then there’s Mark Williams, a towering 7-foot center who brings rim protection, rebounding, and vertical spacing to a team that needed a defensive anchor. Traded from Charlotte in the 2024 offseason in a move that cost the Magic future draft capital, Williams was targeted specifically to stabilize the paint and allow Banchero more freedom to operate as a face-up forward. In his first full season with Orlando, Williams averaged 10.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game — numbers that don’t fully capture his impact.
Williams, another one-and-done out of Duke, has shown a consistent ability to guard the rim without fouling, rotate in space, and run the floor hard in transition. His presence has given Orlando a new defensive identity — one built on length, agility, and interior toughness. Pairing him with Banchero gives the Magic a modern twin-tower frontcourt that can dominate both ends of the floor. And unlike many traditional big men, Williams has shown improvement as a passer and short-roll decision-maker, key traits in today’s NBA.
Together, these three former Duke standouts represent the new era of Magic basketball — a team constructed not through expensive free agents or aging stars, but through the strategic acquisition of young, high-IQ, two-way players. The fact that all three came from Duke is more than symbolic. It underscores the confidence NBA front offices have in what Duke is producing: athletes who are not just physically gifted, but mentally prepared to step into complex systems and roles.
What’s remarkable is how seamlessly each player complements the others. Banchero’s versatility allows him to switch between power forward and small-ball center. Williams protects the rim and rebounds, allowing others to gamble and rotate freely. Proctor, as a combo guard, can initiate offense or space the floor. Together, they represent a blend of power, precision, and poise — characteristics that trace directly back to their time at Duke.
Duke’s fingerprints are all over Orlando’s rebuild. In many ways, the Magic have become an NBA manifestation of what the Blue Devils emphasize at the collegiate level: spacing, communication, unselfishness, and positional fluidity. Scheyer’s system has prepared players not just for success in college, but for the realities of the modern NBA. And for a franchise like Orlando, which has historically struggled to attract stars, the strategy of investing in well-developed, team-first rookies is proving to be a winning formula.
As the 2025–26 season approaches, expectations in Orlando are higher than they’ve been in years. Last season’s surprise playoff appearance ended in a hard-fought six-game series loss, but the message was clear: the Magic are arriving. With the roster maturing and roles clearly defined, many believe this could be the year Orlando makes a leap into the Eastern Conference’s top tier.
Much of that belief centers on the continued growth of their Duke trio. If Banchero makes another All-Star jump, if Proctor adjusts quickly to the pro game, and if Williams remains a defensive anchor, Orlando could become one of the most balanced and dangerous teams in the league. Their trajectory feels less like a rebuild and more like a rising contender — one built not on flash, but on fit.
And perhaps that’s what makes this story so compelling. In an NBA often defined by superteams and blockbuster trades, the Magic are charting a different course: developing homegrown talent, trusting the process, and betting on chemistry over chaos. At the center of it all are three one-and-done Duke products, each of whom arrived in the league with high expectations and have steadily begun delivering on their potential.
The journey from Durham to Orlando isn’t one paved by luck. It’s the result of vision, consistency, and belief — in both the player and the process. And now, as the new season begins, the Magic are ready to show the basketball world just how far that belief can take them. With Duke’s best leading the charge, the future in Orlando looks as bright as ever.
