Paolo Banchero is becoming a star for the Orlando Magic as he heads into the next season. Since coming in as No. 1 in 2022, he has led the team to back-to-back playoff appearances and earned Rookie of the Year and All-Star honors. Recently, he signed a five-year supermax deal with the Magic and became a key part of their plan.
A new season ahead, and Banchero will try to lead the Magic even further. He averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists last season. Now with more help and bigger goals, the Magic’s rising star can become one of the NBA’s top stars.
Even at 22, Paolo gets appreciation for his excellence on the court. NBA legend Paul Pierce believes he brings a bright future to the Magic’s core. Meanwhile, Mike Miller also echoed the same.
“Tip of the iceberg,” Miller said when asked about Banchero. “Paolo’s biggest thing was just, ‘How can I be the best basketball player?’ Like he just cared about basketball. That’s rare. He’s just beginning to understand how freaking good he is. The one thing I’ll say about him and why I’ll bet on him all day long is cause he absolutely loves it and dives into it.”
With sky-high expectations, Banchero must stand tall on all the hopes. The team has complete faith in him, and coming from an injury, he should elevate himself more and play at an elite level.
Paolo Banchero Shares His Off-Court Challenges
Banchero is a great player with a casual and bright personality. During his time at Duke, he had funny moments with reporters and showed his charm.
On a recent podcast, he shared how tough it was to adjust to life in the NBA at just 19. He claimed that college kept him busy all day, but in the NBA, there is much free time, and it can feel lonely.
“I mean, I would say for me, for me, I mean, it’s more so off-the-court stuff, like just being on your own. In the NBA, it’s like, you know, you got one practice from 11 to 1 or whatever, it is 12 to 2, and then you got the whole day to just do whatever you want or to chill at home,” he added.
He also shared that his only hobby is basketball. Banchero now has teammates like Wendell Carter and Tyus Jones from Duke to support him along the way. But his honesty shows the real challenge young players face off the court.
The post Former NBA Champion Says Paolo Banchero Is Only At The “Tip Of The Iceberg” Of His Potential originally published on Total Pro Sports.