Paolo Banchero is entering his third season in the NBA with the Orlando Magic. He is still on his rookie deal that runs through the end of this season. Banchero is slated to make just over $12.5 million this season. Fellow teammate Franz Wagner just inked a franchise record extension, but Banchero will likely smash that when his time to extend comes around.
The former number one overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, Paolo Banchero has been the go-to guy for the Orlando Magic. Even though the franchise has greatly improved over the last few seasons, Banchero is the cornerstone and will continue to be heavily relied upon as the team continues to develop.
Paolo Banchero 2023-2024 Production
After spending one season at Duke, Paolo Banchero entered the 2022 NBA Draft. After being selected as the number one overall pick, Banchero won the Rookie of the Year Award. During his first professional season, the former Blue Devil averaged 20.0 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game.
In his second season, Paolo Banchero was named to the All-Star team and led the Orlando Magic with 22.6 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, and 5.4 assists per game. His shooting percentages are respectable also, as he shot 45.5% from the field, 33.9% from three-point range, and 72.5% from the free-throw line. His 1.5 3-pointers made per game ranked second on the team last season.
In the first round of the 2023-2024 playoffs, the Orlando Magic lost to the Cleveland Cavs in seven games. However, Banchero was a major factor in getting the series to a seventh game. In game seven, he scored 38 points and had 16 rebounds. For the series, Banchero averaged 27 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.0 apg, and 1.1 spg.
Paolo Banchero was highly durable in the 2023-2024 season. He started 80 games, which led the team. His 80 games played were second on the team to Cole Anthony’s 81 games. He missed a game on November 30, 2023, due to an aggravated ankle. On February 25, 2024, Banchero missed a game due to illness.
Paolo Banchero 2024-2025 Projections
Still only 21 years old at the start of the 2024-2025 season, Paolo Banchero is projected to have another solid season for the Orlando Magic. Razzball projects Banchero to average 20.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and 4.0 apg across 76 games. These projections are a bit light compared to his 2023-2024 finish, but most projections tend to be on the conservative side.
Yahoo! has Paolo Banchero ranked 39th overall and the 15 ranked power forward in their draft rankings. Don’t be afraid to reach up a little for the Magic’s best player. Ranked with a fourth-round grade, Banchero should be going more in the middle of the third ahead of guys like Jalen Johnson, Jalen Williams, and even Bam Adebayo.
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