Magic Rookie Paolo Banchero Gets Brutally Honest On His NBA Draft Experience: “I Was Pretty Sure I Was Gonna Go No. 3.”

Paolo Banchero says he though he was getting drafted 3rd overall.

3 Min Read

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

As the leading frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, it’s fair to say that Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero is a star in the making. This season, through 25 games, he’s averaging 21.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game on 44% shooting.

In truth, he’s proving why he was the right pick at no. 1 in the draft. But did you know that Paolo thought he’d be going lower? As he revealed on ‘The Old Man & The Three’ this week, he thought he’d fall to second or third that year.

“I was pretty much 100% sure I was gonna go, maybe number two, but most likely number three. So I felt like I knew where I was going and I was comfortable. I was like ‘look we about to get drafted number three, this is dope.’ Like I’m smiling the whole day. If I would have gotten drafted number three or number two or whatever, I wouldn’t have cried. I would have smiled, gone up there, and been cool. But at that point, it had been a whole process and I was like, alright this is where I’m going. As long as I get to the NBA.”


Is Paolo Banchero Already An NBA Star?

Paolo was juggling great expectations coming of college, but he has delivered on all of them so far. As a team, the Magic haven’t been much to worry about yet, but Paolo’s development should make them a team to watch in the East for years to come.

 While talking to Marc Stein, Banchero revealed that he grew up idolizing LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, while also learning a lot from Anthony Davis’ and Jayson Tatum’s game as well. 

“LeBron [James] and Carmelo [Anthony], growing up, were by far my two favorites like my whole childhood,” Banchero said on which players he models his game after. “And then as I got older I started to know about Anthony Davis and Jayson Tatum — dynamic forwards who are able to play inside or outside. But then I also want to have my own style of play with my own flair. I’m just trying to be myself.”

It remains to be seen just how good Paolo can be, but the fact that he is averaging 21.8 points per game as a 20-year-old with no NBA experience should tell you all you need to know about this kid’s potential.

Already, it seems, the Orlando Magic have changed the outlook of their future with Paolo on the squad.

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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