Well, it’s clear that the Orlando Magic made a smart choice in the draft.
Just an hour or two before the draft began back in June, it was announced that Magic was changing things up and deciding to select Paolo Banchero as the number one overall pick.
The young player out of Duke was always one of the top prospects for the league but seeing him be number one was a little surprising.
But it’s worked out incredibly well for the Magic so far.
Paolo Banchero has 16 20-point games in his first 21 games of his NBA career🔥 @Pp_doesit
The rookie put up 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists in a win over the Raptors. pic.twitter.com/xJS5jOEe9d
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) December 12, 2022
According to B/R Hoops, Banchero has now had 16 20-point games in the first 21 of his rookie year.
That’s a wild, stunning statistic that shows just how comfortable and powerful Banchero already is after just months of playing professional basketball.
He broadcast his skills again on Sunday, as Banchero scored 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists in a big win over the Toronto Raptors.
The Magic still have a long way to go before they are great but Banchero is already approaching All-Star status.
Banchero Blowing Up
Banchero is scoring 21.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists a game on 45.5% from the field.
Those are numbers not usually seen by a rookie in the league but Banchero is not like most rookies.
He is probably the clearest frontrunner for this season’s Rookie of the Year and is sure to claim that trophy if he continues to perform as he has been.
One of the reasons he’s doing so well is that the Magic have handed him the keys to the kingdom.
Right out of the gate, Banchero has been a vital part of the team’s starting lineup and has swiftly slid into the position of team leader.
