Paolo Banchero isn't taking the NBA In-Season Tournament lightly with the Orlando Magic set to play their first game of the tourney Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets.
"It has some meaning, I think," the Magic forward said, according to Sports Illustrated's Jonah Morgan. "Shoot, $500,000 is on the line. I don't know about you, but I'm going hard. ... The intensity is elevated naturally just from the court (and) the uniforms. I'm sure the crowd's gonna be ... a little more into it. And then for us, it being our first tournament game, you've ... seen it on TV and whatnot, so you want to be a part of it."
The Magic will continue the group-play stage of the tournament Friday against the Chicago Bulls. They'll face their remaining East Group C opponents next week, playing the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 21 followed by the Boston Celtics on Nov. 24.
Each player on the team that ultimately wins the tournament will receive $500,000.
Orlando is 5-4 on the season entering Tuesday's game.
