The Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero is All-Rookie First Team, the NBA have announced. Banchero was unanimously selected, receiving all of the possible 100 First Team votes. The Magic’s forward is already the 2022-23 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year.
Paolo Banchero Is All-Rookie First Team
Banchero was the only player to be selected as a first-teamer on all 100 ballots. He was joined on the first team by:
- Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz)
- Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana Pacers)
- Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings)
- Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder)
That is a talented young team and has every likelihood of featuring a few All-Star appearances over the years to come.
Selected first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Banchero played and started in 72 games this season. With ability and athleticism showing instantly for Orlando Paolo hit the ground running.
Averaging a team-high 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 33.7 minutes per game Paolo’s importance to the team cannot be underestimated. He ranked among all NBA leaders in rebounding (joint 38th) and minutes played (tied 37th). In terms of his peers in rookies Banchero led all NBA rookies in scoring and minutes played. In that group he also ranked significantly in rebounding (5th), assists (3rd), free throw percentage (7th), steals (4th) and blocked shots (7th).
Magic History Of The Rookie Team
Banchero becomes the 11th player in franchise history to be named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He joins:
- Dennis Scott (1990-91)
- Shaquille O’Neal (1992-93)
- Anfernee Hardaway (1993-94)
- Matt Harpring (1998-99)
- Mike Miller (2000-01)
- Drew Gooden (2002-03)
- Dwight Howard (2004-05)
- Victor Oladipo (2013-14)
- Elfrid Payton (2014-15)
- Franz Wagner (2021-22)
Banchero became just the sixth NBA rookie in the last 50 seasons (since 1973-74) to average 20-plus points, 6+ rebounds and 3+ assists (playing a minimum of 50 games). He scored 20+ points on 40 occasions and 30+ points six times this season, the most by any NBA rookie.
The statistic of 40 20-plus point games is the second-most by a rookie in Magic franchise history. That record is held by Shaquille O’Neal with 60 games of 20-plus points in 1992-93. It also tied for the fifth-most in NBA history for most 20+ point games by a rookie age 20-or-younger.
Banchero’s six games of 30+ points was also second-most by a rookie in team history (O’Neal, 10, 1992-93).
