For weeks, the middle announced the interior Jabari Smith in Orlando, but it was finally the former number 5 of the university team of Duke who was called the first. Mobile, powerful, Paolo Banchero (2.08m) has often been presented as one of the most accomplished players of this draft: impeccable fundamentals, above-average sense of placement and passing for a player of his cut.
He was ahead of Chet Holmgren, considered the biggest potential of this 2022 vintage, chosen by Oklahoma City, and Jabari Smith, who scowled when he learned that he would join Houston, in third position. Paolo Banchero (19) is part of the prestigious line of players selected in the first row by the Florida franchise, namely Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber and Dwight Howard. The great-grandson of an Italian national, US-born Paolo Banchero was granted citizenship in 2020 and indicated he wanted to play for the Italian national team.
“Italian Roots”
He joins a young Magic formation, which decided last year to rebuild and separated from veterans Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier. “I want to win, bring Orlando back to the playoffs,” said the former Duke No. 5, who even talked about taking the Magic to the Finals, like Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard before him. Technically, this former American football quarterback in high school becomes the second Italian number one in the draft, after Andrea Bargnani, selected in 2006 by Toronto.
Paolo Banchero
AFP
“Bargnani was born and raised in Italy” and “I was born and raised in Seattle”, recalled Paolo Banchero, in his purple suit, after his passage on the podium to shake hands with the NBA boss, Adam Silver. “I don’t want to take anything away from him,” he continued, “but I’m really proud to have Italian roots and to be able to represent Italy. »
A young team in the process of rebuilding like Orlando, Oklahoma City has set its sights on Chet Holmgren, a rod (88 kg for 2.13 m) with striking agility for a player of his size. The U19 world champion last summer with the United States fascinates as much for his possibilities in attack as in defense, able to sow disorder in the four corners of the field.
“I grew up watching a lot of Kobe”
He was joined a few minutes later under the OKC banner by French winger Ousmane Dieng (19, 2.08m), who is coming off a season in the Australian NBL league and is one of the few players in this draft to have work experience. “I think it can bring me,” he explained. “I was already playing with adults last year, with former NBA players, former Euroleague players. »
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