Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic knew that being the number one draft pick comes with a lot of honor and a lot of pressure too.
If you end up being as good as people hope, that’s great news and sets the stage for a long, successful NBA career.
And if you aren’t stellar right out of the gate then people will call you a mistake, a missed opportunity, and a bad number-one pick.
The regular NBA season hasn’t started yet.
However, it appears as if Banchero isn’t going to let that second outcome happen.
Rookie of the Year incoming pic.twitter.com/5mzJGOnKYs
— Zion O. (@DukeNBA) October 12, 2022
Banchero put up a Rookie of the Year performance on Tuesday night as his team took on the Memphis Grizzlies.
The forward was fantastic throughout the entire game and helped his team secure a 109-105 over Ja Morant and his squad.
Banchero is showing that he is that guy.
Fans of the team truly should be fired up and excited about what’s ahead from the top draft prospect.
Banchero With The Buckets
Banchero ended the night with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists in 27 minutes.
He went 6-of-9 from the field and was all over the court.
He moved through the paint and was never afraid of confronting, defending, and attempting boards.
For the last few months, there has been some debate about whether Banchero was the right top pick in the draft.
But if he continues to play like this then that debate will be silenced.
It is very important to remember that the season hasn’t started.
There is a slew of talented young rookies aiming to be the best newcomer in the league.
However, Banchero is showing that he really is number one – at least for now.
NEXT: Franz Wagner Is Already Looking Better In Year 2