Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero reflects on being a Jordan athlete despite playing for Duke Blue Devils.
Rivalries are always an important aspect of any sport and the same is the case for the game of basketball.
Be it in the NBA or NCAA, rivalries between two teams are what makes it exciting and one of the most iconic rivalries in all of sports is between the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels.
So much so that even after getting drafted into the NBA, most players maintain distance from the other program’s athletes. However, Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero ignored this Duke-UNC rivalry.
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty ImagesPaolo Banchero on signing with the Jordan brand
With Banchero being an elite high school prospect, it was only a matter of time before he signed a signature shoe deal with one of the top sneaker brands.
The 2022 No. 1 overall pick signed with the Jordan brand right off the bat, but not many fans saw it coming due to Banchero’s Duke ties.
Was the decision easy? Banchero said: “That was easy. That was easy. I was like, damn, for real? And he [Jamal Crawford] said, ‘He [Jordan] loves your game, loves about you, the right stuff.’
“He said, ‘We gotta get you to the brand.’ Like s___, that’s all you had to say, I think I signed with Jordan. I think right after the Summer League,” Banchero said.
Banchero shares a great bond with former NBA player Jamal Crawford. So, it was only natural that Crawford played a role in getting the Magic star to the Jordan brand.
Michael Jordan’s college career with UNC Tar Heels
While Banchero was a member of Duke’s basketball program, Michael Jordan played for UNC. Speaking of which, MJ is arguably one of the most decorated alums of the basketball program.
Jordan spent three seasons with the team before declaring for the 1984 NBA Draft where he was selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls.
As for his NCAA career, MJ averaged 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game for the Tar Heels in 101 contests.
Jordan also won the 1982 NCAA Championship along with a plethora of other accolades. But his college resume fades in comparison to what he has achieved in the NBA.