We Got Next: A closer look at the NBA’s 5 newest stars

NBA: Paolo Banchero – Orlando Magic

On November 5th, the Orlando Magic Power Forward Paolo Banchero became the second teenager to amass 30 points and 15 rebounds in an NBA game when he scored 33 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a loss to the Sacramento Kings. The other player to do it was LeBron James.

To say that Banchero is in rare company is an understatement. Standing 6’10” tall and weighing 250 lbs. Banchero is one of the few players in NBA history to join the league strong enough to bang bodies with the grown men who make up his opponents and not be knocked around. In fact, when witnessing displays of sheer strength and physicality during a Magic game, it is Banchero who is playing “bully ball,” not the other way around.

After one season at Duke, where he was named the ACC Rookie of the Year, Banchero was taken with the first pick in the draft by the Orlando Magic. So far this season, it looks like the team made the right choice. Banchero is currently averaging 21.8 points per game, pulling down 6.5 rebounds per contest, and looking like a man amongst boys. He is among the favorites to win the Rookie of the Year award, even though the team is not seeing success in the win column.

Although Banchero is a physically gifted player, he does not rely solely on his size and strength to get an advantage on his opponents. He is an exceptional ball handler for a player of his size, and he is capable of getting to his desired spot on the floor in just a few dribbles. His agility and skill set are part of what make him difficult to guard. The Magic are a young ball club, but when the trio of Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, and Banchero begins to gel, they could be a team to look out for in the not-so-distant future.