We already knew the Orlando Magic were for real when they excelled throughout the 2023-24 season, taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

We also knew that Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, would be very, very good. Well, he confirmed what we already knew on Monday night when he dropped 50 points in a 119-115 win over the Indiana Pacers.

At just 21 years old, Banchero is by far the best player on his team. This team finished fifth in the Eastern Conference last season. And they seemed to be doing better. Banchero certainly did.

With 37 points in the first half, Banchero tied Tracy McGrady’s franchise record for points scored in a single half. More impressive? Banchero joins the elite list of players who have scored 50 points in a game before their 22nd birthday.

LeBron James. Rick Barry. Allen Iverson.

But it’s not like Banchero is just a volume scorer. Devin Booker and Trae Young had 50 balls before turning 22. He contributed 13 rebounds and nine assists to the win. He was 61 percent from the field. Did we mention the Magic won?

That’s because Banchero plays winning basketball. Some nights your number is called to be the alpha who goes out there and gets 50. On other nights, we saw his ability to get his teammates involved and make winning plays.

When you look at Orlando’s roster, it doesn’t exactly scream a team destined for the Eastern Conference Finals this year. This is an East that employs dynamic duos like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, Paul George and Joel Embiid, and Jalen Brunson with Karl-Anthony Towns.

Oh, and Donovan Mitchell’s Cavaliers, who beat the Magic in the playoffs last year.

But that’s the beauty of having a young star in the NBA. Right now may not be the time for big things in Orlando. But they will be in the playoffs. You will learn from these repeated, consistent experiences. If Magic general manager Anthony Parker continues to add talent, there’s no reason to believe the culture in Orlando has changed.

Look at where the Boston Celtics were. The young duo of Tatum and Brown couldn’t get past LeBron James in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals. They’ve had so many runs in the Eastern Conference since then. But last season everything finally fell into place.

Along the way, the magicians may find a Robin for Banchero’s Batman. Perhaps this Robin comes from the development of this young Magic squad. Of course, there is always a world in which he learns to dominate on his own.

At 21, losing 50 points in a game is always very promising for a young career. But we didn’t even need to see that to know which path Banchero was on. It just reaffirms that the future of Magic basketball is very bright.