Banchero has strong start to NBA career
Last season, the Magic rolled out a young team that struggled to find consistent success on either side of the ball. They finished with a 22-60 record that landed them last in the East and second to last in the NBA. Due to this, they had a high chance of landing the top pick in the following draft. Through the lottery process, Orlando was given the first selection in the 2022 draft with a chance to turn around the franchise.
Unlike many of the drafts in recent years, there was no clear first choice in the class. Instead, a trio of future stars headlined the group, with experts failing to meet a consensus. Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith Jr., and Chet Holmgren each pitched cases for being the franchise-altering player the Magic were looking for. However, ultimately, Banchero was selected with the first overall pick.
In his one season at Duke, Banchero brought home a slew of honors. He was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team, Consensus All-American, All-ACC, All-ACC Tournament, ACC All-Freshman, and ACC Rookie of the Year. He also led the Blue Devils to a Final Four with averages of 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game throughout the season.
On top of these impressive numbers, Banchero’s frame makes him an intriguing prospect. He measures in at 6-foot-10 with an estimated 7-foot-1 wingspan. With this height and length, he is also an elite athlete that can jump out of the gym and drive to the hoop. His effective jump shot, along with these physical gifts, makes him the total package.
With the Magic now five games into the season, Banchero has looked worthy of the coveted top selection. Despite an 0-5 start for Orlando, Banchero has topped the rookie ladder with averages of 24 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He is also shooting the ball somewhat efficiently for his NBA debut at 44.8 percent from the field and 28.6 percent on three-pointers.
Defensively, he has held his own with 1.6 blocks and 0.8 steals a contest. Looking at advanced metrics, he is a positive defender with a 0.2 defensive win share. His length has made it difficult for defenders to get past him and his size makes it hard to go over him.
With one of the youngest rosters in the league, it is no surprise that the Magic are struggling. It is clear that Banchero is a very bright spot on the team, though.
If he continues the success from his opening five games, then multiple All-Star selections are definitely in order. It is still early, but it appears Orlando may have made the right choice for the future face of its franchise.