Paolo Banchero was named as the 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year after a sensational debut season with the Orlando Magic.
Banchero received the honor on Inside the NBA on a panel featuring another former Magic ROTY in Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq became the butt of a Charles Barkley joke, as Chuck said Banchero is the second greatest Orlando Magic big man behind Dwight Howard.
“Other than Dwight Howard, you’re another great Orlando [Magic] big man. Not many great men in Orlando. You’re second already behind Dwight.”
"Other than Dwight Howard, you're another great Orlando [Magic] big man. Not many great men in Orlando. You're second already behind Dwight."
Charles Barkley to Paolo Banchero 😂pic.twitter.com/Z91xfXk1mX
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 25, 2023
O’Neal and Howard have a very acrimonious relationship which goes back to the days the pair were in the league together and playing against each other in All-Star games. Barkley has made jokes about Howard being better than Shaq before and he surely will do it again.
A Historic Rookie Campaign By Paolo Banchero
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and Oklahoma City Thunder wing Jalen Williams lost out to Banchero for the award. Banchero earned 98 out of 100 first-place votes, with Kessler earning the other two. Williams earned 75 second-place votes.
Banchero was the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists over the season. He made an impact straight out of the gate, scoring 27 points with nine rebounds and five assists in his debut. This made him the first rookie to record 25-5-5 in his debut since LeBron James.
The Magic showed great signs of progress with their young core gelling well together. With Banchero emerging as a bonafide No. 1 option for the squad, the team will start moving up the NBA ranks soon.
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