The Orlando Magic know one thing or two about the first-overall pick.
Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard sure turned out to be great, leading the franchise to the NBA Finals.
So, maybe, Paolo Banchero will be able to finish the job and do what neither of them could, which is winning a championship there.
We may be getting ahead of ourselves, and the Magic are a ways away from contention.
However, Banchero has had a rookie season for the ages, breaking multiple marks and looking like a superstar in the making.
Even LeBron James had to tip his hat off after the Lakers faced the Magic:
“He’s been exceptional,” James said. “Playing great ball, [he’s] been a three-level scorer so far in this league. He’s only going to get better and better. Every game he’ll get better and better. All these experiences is just really good for him. They got a good one. Great kid too. They’ve got a great one in Orlando. They’ve had some really really good picks in their drafts. They got Shaq, they got Dwight, now you see him. They’ve done really well.”
More than that, Banchero is currently 8th in All-Star voting among frontcourt players in the Eastern Conference, so there’s a realistic chance he will become the first rookie All-Star since Blake Griffin in 2010.
Paolo Banchero is currently 8th in All-Star voting for frontcourt players in the East 👀
Could he be the first rookie since Blake Griffin to make the ASG? 🪄 pic.twitter.com/HjaJNmPTOc
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 5, 2023
Banchero is averaging 21.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 three-pointers per game on 34.3 minutes a night.
He looks poised and in control on offense and has made a fool out of NBA defenders since day one.
So, yeah, the Magic definitely got a special one.
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