Desmond Bane, traded to the Orlando Magic earlier in the offseason, spoke candidly about his connection to the Memphis Grizzlies and his continued support for the franchise. In an interview with Mark Medina of SportsKeeda, Bane said, “I’m rooting for Memphis 80 games out of the year. I hope they do well. I got a lot of guys out of there that are up for contracts and things like that.”
Bane emphasized that there is no lingering tension following his departure from Memphis. “There’s no bad blood at all,” he added, expressing optimism for his former teammates’ success.
The veteran guard also reflected on offseason team activities, describing a productive and enjoyable summer in Las Vegas with the Magic. He said, “Players were able to get the chance to talk about their summers and talk about what they envision for the season and how we’re going to hold everybody accountable.”
Orlando acquired Bane on June 15, trading Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and four unprotected first-round picks, including the 16th overall selection, to Memphis. The deal positions Bane as a key contributor in the Magic’s backcourt alongside Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Anthony Black.
During his five seasons with the Grizzlies, Bane developed into a consistent scorer and versatile defender. He averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 69 games during the 2024–25 season, shooting 39.2% from three-point range.
Bane’s playoff performances were notable as well, despite limited team success. In 2025, he averaged 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds across four postseason games.
