The Orlando Magic didn’t hesitate to take Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick in 2022, and it didn’t take long before it proved to be the right decision.
Even if Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. end up being stars, it doesn’t seem like they’ll be able to reach Banchero’s ceiling if he keeps his great play up.
With that in mind, Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley recently compared him to Jayson Tatum, Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James.
Talking about his development, Mosley stated that Banchero is all about putting in the hard work and helping his team win, which is obviously something you’d love to see in a young player (via Run It Back).
"[Paolo Banchero] is about winning, and he's about team, and that's what makes this thing go." 🙌
Jamahl Mosely on the development of Paolo Banchero.
📺: https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g pic.twitter.com/2o3DMVbq9b
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) December 13, 2023
When asked about those comparisons, Mosley stated that Banchero is always one step ahead of the rest of the players on the floor because he’s got great court vision, so he’s always kind of playing chess.
He believes that he’s got LeBron’s passing ability combined with Melo’s and Tatum’s three-level scoring skills.
Banchero is averaging virtually the same numbers from his rookie season, and some might believe the lack of improvement could be somewhat discouraging.
Nonetheless, he’s actually scoring at a much more efficient clip, and his rookie numbers were already quite impressive.
Banchero can do it all on the offensive end of the floor, and he’s playing winning basketball right now, which is perhaps the toughest part of being a young player in the league.
The sky is the limit for him and the second-seeded, up-and-coming Magic.
NEXT: Magic HC Explains Team’s Turnaround This Season