Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero has already etched himself into NBA history books with his debut performance against the Detroit Pistons, putting him on a fast track to becoming one of the next NBA stars.
The No. 1 overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft accomplished something in his regular season debut that’s only been done twice before: record a stat line of at least 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Banchero joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only No. 1 overall draft picks since 1969 to record a 25-5-5 stat line in their regular season debut.
He finished his first NBA game with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks vs the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 19.
Orlando Magic enjoying instant returns from NBA rookie Paolo Banchero
Despite being in the NBA for just a short time, the Seattle native has passed the eye test at nearly every step of his young career. We saw Banchero play great ball in Summer League, we saw him shine during the Orlando Magic preseason run, and now he’s showing us he’s got future NBA All-Star written all over him.
At 6’10” and 250-pounds, there are few NBA players who can match up with this rookie. Not many players possess the combination of strength, athleticism, and finesse that Banchero has put on display.
Paolo Banchero already has the mindset of a veteran, too. He’s hungry to compete and compete against everyone in the NBA. He told SiriusXM NBA Radio that he wants to play all 82 games this season, which is something rarely seen in today’s NBA.
"I'm going to play all 82."
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) October 17, 2022
Paolo Banchero expects to play every game of his rookie season.@OrlandoMagic | @RickKamlaSports | @ReggieTheus | @NBA |@Pp_doesit pic.twitter.com/2K0ZWdUjNp
Banchero has the poise, hunger, and skills needed to be a top-tier talent in the NBA. If he can stay healthy, not only will he see his star rise, the Orlando Magic will be dramatically improved from where they were just a season ago.
There’s little doubt Banchero is supremely gifted on offense, but there are still a few areas of his game that have room for improvement. His five personal fouls and four turnovers against the Pistons are a clear indicator he’s still adjusting to the speed of the game. Also, his defense has to get better, too. Paolo Banchero was the primary defender on Detroit forward Bojan Bogdanovic (covering him 40% of the time) but allowed him to shoot 50% from the field and 66.7% from three.
Even with some of the initial defensive shortcomings and the need to adjust to the speed of the game, Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero is well on his way to NBA stardom.