For one, he was probably the best all-around offensive player in the draft, although as time evolves, who knows which players will make the biggest strides. He has taken 94 of his 230 field goal attempts in March within five feet of the basket (40.9 percent of his shot attempts). Shot 87.5% FT% at the NBPA Top 100 in 2019 Good rebounder. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, A Deeper Look at Paolo Bancheros Preseason Performance Against Mavs, Magic Come Back From 21 Down to Beat Mavs in Preseason Action, Wendell Carter Jr. on Paolo Banchero: P Can Guard One Through Five, 3 Interesting Paolo Banchero Questions Entering 2022-23 Season. Good timing on lead passes and knows where his teammates are at all times, utilizing his options well. Paolo Banchero is 6-10 (208 cm) tall. Is able to shoot off the catch or create for himself off the bounce Is especially dangerous as a trail man where he can shoot the three or attack a late closeout from a defender Possesses excellent footwork, especially in the post, that allows him to remain on balance and create advantages for himself by getting defenders out of position Can score in a variety of ways in the post Has a fadeaway jumper that is extremely difficult to contest, and can hit it with regularity Uses his strength to power through contact and scores despite being fouled regularly Can play above the rim and likes to finish plays with dunks instead of layups Is not a selfish player, averaging 3.2 assists per game for his college career Is comfortable playing as a roller or popping out looking for a jumper or driving lane when playing the pick and roll game There really isnt much he cant do on the offensive end of the court. He is probably the safest pick in the entire draft, as his offensive versatility makes it nearly guaranteed that he is an impact player at the next level. And given that the starting lineup is fixing to be one of the league's tallest, head coach Jamahl Mosley may not be concerned with position specifics like having enough wings or guards on the floor at once. Averaged 3 steals per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2019 Mature and polished, contributed at the highest levels of high school at a young age Smart shot selection, doesnt force his scoring or hunt for shot opportunities. For now, the wing simply isn't good enough. Nonetheless, hes showcased flashes of rangy perimeter chops. November 12, His steps are choppy and he fails to curtail driving angles as a result. Turns out the Orlando Magic agreed with him. He made 72.9 percent of his free throw attempts. But over his final 17 contests, he had three or more assists 14 times, including on Feb. 26 when he handed out a season-best nine of them at Syracuse. He averaged the most points (20.0), third-most assists (3.7) and the fifth-most rebounds (6.9) among all rookies. Occasionally, thats fine. Paolo Banchero. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. But it's also worth mentioning that even though Duke's best player was attacking the basket, not one Michigan State player helped off of their man, knowing Banchero can now beat you as a passer too. He needs to build core strength to counter brawny wings and his screen navigation is clunky, due to some inflexibility. Thats exactly what theyre doing. Forty-four percent of his field goals occur there (92nd percentile), where hes shooting 62 percent (56th percentile). Especially considering where Banchero has been. A lot of analysis regarding Ivey seems to land on his long ball. Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk, and Keegan Murray are all malleable off-ball scorers. The top overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Banchero played and . Anticipating, trying to think one play ahead, reading the defense, reading the guy youre trying to throw the ball to, trying to see whether you have to lead him or throw it more on time (and) on target, he said. Banchero helped Orlando to a 12-win improvement this season as the team went 34-48. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. One example of this was against The Citadel early in the season where the Bulldogs Jackson Price made a baseline cut and appeared to have an open layup before Banchero slid over to reject the shot. But he was abysmal from the top of the key and left wing, where combined he made just 24.7 percent of his attempts (20-of-81). He also had good touch from the right wing, where he knocked down a shade under 40 percent of his 28 tries. Banchero, the No. Also, because of his size and strength, especially at just 19 years old, he has the potential to be a stout defender, despite some feeling before the draft that this would be one of his weaknesses. College Roundup:Scored in double figures in 37 of his 39 games at Duke, had 15 20-plus-point performances, recorded 12 double-doubles, and dished out five or more assists eight times. Biggest area of improvement: Off-ball awareness. Bleacher Report even noted a primary area that still needs to be improved as the Magic continue to grow into a playoff contender once again. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Even though that little lefty hesitation wasn't exactly And-1 mixtape worthy, it's impressive he has the ball-handling control to get into half-spin move out of the post like that with his off-hand. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. What makes Banchero so special is his dual ability to threaten defenses as a shot creator and playmaker. Averaged 2.1 blocks per game over the Nike EYBL in 2019. First off, Banchero is a righty. No rookie made our top 100 list this season, . Averaged 3.2 per game over the Nike EYBL in 2019 Versatile defender but lateral quickness isnt great, defending quick players on the perimeter at the next levels may be an obstacle Cant argue with his scoring efficiency but still has room to improve finishing against length at the rim and operating in traffic , Outlook: Duke commit 2020 Washington Gatorade Player of the Year Scored 14 points in the 2019 Underclassman All-American Game . In the Blue Devils five NCAA Tournament games, he racked up four assists three times and committed more than two turnovers just once. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. home/away, monthly, etc More Paolo Banchero Basketball Reference pages, 2022-23 Magic He finishes the play off with some balanced footwork and a ridiculously skilled fadeaway that you don't typically see from 19-year-old bigs. When should Pirates fans buy into this team? And nobody caught him. (with WWEs Corey Graves). Averaged 21.8 points per game on 51.5% FG% over the Nike EYBL in 2019. Following his freshman season, he declared for the 2022 NBA draft, where he was selected with the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic. 1 Weakness in the Early Stages of his NBA Career? Paolo Banchero was drafted by Orlando Magic, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 2022 NBA Draft. But if he continues to be erratic inside the arc, shrewd defenders and schemes will skirt him off the line and exploit his shortcomings. If you look at Jayson Tatums shooting percentages, for example, theyre not that impressive. Hes flexible, creative, and will convert with either hand. The bedrock of his advantage creation is founded on his downhill speed and finishing. Averaged 21.8 points per game on 51.5% FG% over the Nike EYBL in 2019. Good shot blocker. video for Did Steph Curry cook up the best Game 7 performance ever? Eventually, he will knock down more of these looks his elevated release point is already a weapon, and hopefully, hell be better accommodated for his talents to shine. While erratic from 3-point range overall, he was money from the corners. This site has no affiliation with the National Basketball Association | Website by, 2017-18 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team, Nike EYBL Atlanta: All-Underclassmen Team, Nike EYBL Hampton: All-Underclassmen Team, Class of 2021: Prospects on the rise after spring session, USA Basketball Mens U17 Training Camp Set to Begin With 30 Athletes, 2021 Paolo Banchero Receiving High-Major Interest, Eighty-Seven Athletes Expected at USA Basketball Mens Junior National Team October Minicamp, Five-star Paolo Banchero shines as versatile, polished prospect, NBA Summer League Winners and Losers: Rookie Edition, 2022 NBA Draft: Eastern Conference Draft Grades. But that football mindset has stayed with him on the hardwood. Or write about sports? Lineups 2022 Sports Phenoms, Inc., All Rights Reserved | Prior to the Draft, when Smith was seemingly in the mix to go No. Overall, he shot 33.8 percent from downtown. Duke's Paolo Banchero entered his freshman season with lofty expectations, seen to be in a dual with Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren for the No. He struggled to break through the rookie wall making just 1 of 33 3-pointers that month. Weaknesses Banchero's three-point shot needs work. He doesnt operate with much haste, force, or wiggle. Ivey would have to become such a terrific sniper for that dynamic to shift. Considering that, as of now, the team also has an athletic and dependable veteran wing in Terrence Ross along with a versatile second-year forward Franz Wagner, the Magic have a handful of players capable of providing important minutes at that spot. But the Orlando Magic rookie has come on strong in March previewing where he can easily improve.. Theyre tied for seventh in the West and a game out of second. Paolo Banchero out of Duke is a unique power forward in that at 6-foot-10, 250 pounds he can effectively operate in the pick-and-roll as the ball handler and orchestrator. But when he gets a matchup he likes, hes tough to stop. Here is a complete scouting report with a few examples showcasing what makes Banchero such a special prospect. What I missed about Paolo Banchero. Fridays performance in Dallas, in which he scored 19 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out one assist and collected one steal in 22 minutes, was his best so far this preseason. Paolo Banchero had a rough shooting February that highlighted one of his biggest weaknesses. Theyre equipped to flourish around Foxs driving and Domantas Sabonis handoffs, screening, and interior presence. Smith struggles to thrive off the catch when defenses close out aggressively. Shot 7.2 free throws per game on 80.9% FT% over the Nike EYBL in 2019. He loses cutters, fails to properly rotate on the weakside in help-the-helper scenarios, and just generally seems to not recognize or adhere to his responsibilities off the ball. After a dreadful FEB its been a MAJOR uptick in his 3PT shooting, Above Break: 13-42 (31%)L Corner: 4-5 (80%)R Corner: 2-3 (66.7%)Overall: 19-51 (37.3%) pic.twitter.com/GmZwKY8LNO, Fawzan Amer (@Fawzan24_) March 30, 2023. Biggest area of improvement: Midrange game. Those are wins for the defense. He labors through screens, an understandable issue at his stature. Biggest area of improvement: Defending in space. Tyrese Maxey playing through knee injury in Game 1 vs. Celtics Monday, Players you can drop in fantasy baseball for Week 6 of 2023 MLB season, MLB lineups for Monday, May 1: Whos starting, whos sitting. He is shooting 62.0 percent in the restricted area this season but has seen it slip to 54.2 percent in March as one of the big areas he has struggled. Paolo Banchero weighs 250 lbs (113 kg). Im usually letting the game come to me, so the more comfortable I get, the more natural it starts to feel. 1 overall pick. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. Paolo Banchero scouting report: 2022 NBA Draft prospect's strengths, weaknesses and player comparison, Top 60 prospects with NBA player comparisons. to Mark Williams for a much easier basket. Apathy may not be the correct framing for his gaffes. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. A few national outlets, while still staying Banchero was the likely, probable and rightful winner of the Rookie of the Year Award, said the conversation should be reopened with how well Jalen Williams was playing and he has been playing well as has Benedict Mathurin and Walker Kessler in what has been a really impressive rookie class. Power Forward Although it was a small sample size, Banchero at summer league looked like a well-rounded. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. This could certainly be something of an outlier, of course. He doesnt even yet know an NBA reality where he scores fewer than 15. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Good passing ability and court vision, especially at his size. For Banchero to truly reach his full potential, these are the types of reads he'll be expected to make on a regular basis with the ball in his hands. March has seen him find his spots from deep and really his jumper as a whole. When he finds himself probing inside the free-throw line yet outside the restricted area, a wave of discontent seeps into his game. Later in the first half, Banchero found himself in a similar situation but this time, he's attacking a slower defender who closed out on him too hard on the 3-point line. However, Banchero can take his game up another level by improving upon his 42.7 field-goal percentage and 29.8 three-point percentage in his sophomore campaign. One look at the undeniable talent littered across the roster makes it nearly impossible for Magic fans to not feel some boost in optimism. As Banchero puts all the pieces together, it is clear he can become a true three-level scorer. Uses eurosteps when appropriate Creates well and breaks down the defense off the dribble and in isolation. Its the norm, though. He is shooting 38.3 percent on mid-range jumpers for the season. 2 pick in favor of Holmgren for the first time this season. What part of his game and this season will carry over? Much like other trackstar guards before him ex: John Wall, DeAaron Fox, Ja Morant defenses will always prioritize stopping the drive ahead of the three. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Hes shooting 29 percent from midrange. In a surprising turn of. Orlando Magic, 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 2022 NBA Draft, More Paolo Banchero pages at Sports Reference. There are various plays most nights where the opposition creates an advantage and he played a prominent part in it. Not only is he a willing passer, but he makes difficult passes look fairly easy. 1, Banchero should be among the first four names selected on draft night. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. How much does Paolo Banchero weigh? Going into his freshman season, I compared Banchero to Hawks forward John Collins because of his fluid athleticism and physicality. Harris and Houstan will help, but this is still a frontcourt-heavy roster that needs more perimeter threats. His size allows him to match up with established big men in the league, but his quickness can give him an advantage against traditional bigs in the league. Banchero was the No. Its no secret that Paolo Banchero plays a classic midrange style of basketball rarely seen in todays trigger happy NBA. While hes not gained traction from deep yet, defenses much prefer the alternative than to let him bomb away. According to NBA.com, hes logging 13.3 drives per game and generating points on 69.2 percent of them, two marks that parallel Giannis Antentokoumpo (14.5, 73.8 percent), the gold standard for high-volume, big man slashers. Banchero still scored plenty a season-low 16.6 points per game but his shooting took a major dip. On-Off. There just simply aren't many 6-foot-10, 250-pound shot-creating playmakers out there, never mind at 19 years old. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Monday, May 1, 7:34PM. Banchero was very iso-heavy at Duke last season. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Twitter: Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. Pp_doesit Banchero's production projects at an All-NBA level. Doesnt over-dribble. Shot 25% (5-20) 3PT% over the Nike EYBL in 2019. But it's also worth mentioning that even though Duke's best player was attacking the basket, not one Michigan State player helped off of their man, knowing Banchero can now beat you as a passer too. Can score at all three levels Good footwork and use of pivots you dont see too often at the high school level. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). Advantages are hard to fashion. We got a bunch of big, strong guys from the one through the five, he said. In March, Banchero has still taken the majority of his shots around the rim. Houston desperately yearned for spacing last season and Smith can help there. When Im not thinking and playing more instinctive, I play a lot better. Last week former Duke basketball freshman forward Paolo Banchero claimed he was the best player entering the 2022 NBA Draft. Pictured: Paolo Banchero (Duke) Still, there are a whole lot of NBA teams that would very happily add a floor-raising multi-time All-Star at the top of the draft and never look back. Paolo Banchero showed what makes him the potential No. The fluidity with which he moves and dribbles at his size, while also gracefully mashing through defenders when necessary, is a marvel to watch. Weaknesses Banchero showed some improvement in his lateral quickness but it will certainly be an area of improvement once he's drafted into the NBA. But becoming less susceptible in space, however he can, should be a priority to help that off-ball offense lead to even more individual and collective profits. The primary reason for such a future stems from an adept slashing game. BIG BOARD: Top 60 prospects with NBA player comparisons. The Rockets dont really incorporate his movement shooting into their offensive sets. He admits hes still learning the nuances of pick-and-roll offense, which is prevalent in the NBA. He has made 15 of 32 catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts. Only 44 percent of his makes at the rim are assisted (88th percentile among forwards), per Cleaning The Glass. Banchero was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2023. to Mark Williams for a much easier basket. Expectations for Paolo Banchero this season. For that reason, he should be a surefire top three pick and is very much in the conversation for #1 overall. The offseason worries about the defensive personnel of the roster have come to fruition. He spends a lot of time out on the perimeter to hunt these mismatches and he specifically did a great job of using all of his tools as a scorer and passer to keep Michigan State's defense guessing when he attacked. Even his mid-range shooting has taken a bump up. Murray is a snug fit in this offense thats proving to be a symbiotic partnership. Floaters and intermediate pull-ups are a last resort. It helps, too, that he has great handles considering he doesnt usually blow by opponents off the dribble. The Kings are 26th in defensive rating. All rights reserved. He relies more on finesse rather than speed and explosiveness. He has a knack for seeing holes in the defense. A sweet spot of his was along the left baseline, where he shot 57.7 percent on 26 tries. Paolo Banchero has struggled with his shooting for most of the season but he is closing March shooting his best. But March has seen him show his shooting potential and shown his growth as a mid-range and long-range shooter. 1 overall pick in the draft. Getting quicker with the ball in his hands will only make him more dynamic as a scorer and playmaker at the next level. By re-signing Gary Harris and selecting second-round rookie Caleb Houstan, Orlando helped itself by securing talent at the wing. His ability to score at all three levels with consistency, handle the ball, and even lead the break make him a perfect fit in todays NBA and he projects to be an All-Star sooner rather than later. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Ceiling: Chris Webber, Detroit Pistons version of Blake Griffin, Others hes like: Julius Randle, Carlos Boozer, Derrick Coleman and Juwan Howard, Strengths:Shot Creation, Scoring Versatility, Craftiness, Aggressiveness, Footwork, Ball Handling, Playmaking, Power, Rebounding, Weaknesses:Lateral Foot Speed, Defensive Awareness, Shooting Consistency. He looks overmatched around the basket and so many of his drives conclude with difficult fadeaways or pull-up jumpers. Every game so far I feel I have made a huge step, he said. That is quite a way to get into his offseason as he continues to improve. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. But it's hard to completely agree with Bleacher Report's reasoning. Having played football growing up in addition to basketball, Banchero is unafraid of some contact and has no problem playing physical. Do you have a blog? Were going to take a look at the top prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and provide a player comparison for how we see them developing at the next level. Saying Banchero is a weak defender is probably unfair. For the last few weeks, the debate that has grown among national media circles has been a flimsy attempt to open the Rookie of the Year debate. The Magic were the ones that put him in more pick-and-rolls and changed his usage to be more perimeter-oriented. If anything, the franchise's continuous "biggest weakness" is having a group that proves it's capable of turning the franchise around. He went for 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal in a first-round win over Cal State Fullerton, then followed that up with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one block in a close win over Michigan State to advance to the Sweet 16. Shot 20% (1-5) 3PT% at the NBPA Top 100 in 2019 Can cut down on turnovers. This was going to be Bancheros biggest weakness coming out of college. How efficient will he be shooting the ball from different ranges? College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Advanced Game Log Offensively, Banchero's consistency as a shooter could determine his ceiling as a scorer at the next level. Banchero has effectively shut the door on the Rookie of the Year conversation by showing his biggest weakness in his rookie year is one he can make significant improvements on. ORLANDO -- Paolo Banchero was picked first overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2022 NBA Draft for all sorts of reasons. Paolo Napoleon James Banchero Paolo Banchero is the most obviously projectable star in the draft and the one guy easiest to slot into a major role on a team lacking talent and let him cook. You can never have enough playmaking. On paper, Orlando has the talent, size, and versatility needed to be a successful team in the coming seasons. 1, his allure centered on this juiced-up 3-and-D forward whose versatile floor-spacing and comfort on the perimeter defensively would make him a distinct, indispensable cog for high-level winning. Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic. At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, Paolo Banchero's body was as NBA-ready as we've seen in quite some time. First off, Banchero is a righty. The finishing is stellar, but defenses will take it away at times. Well, that's exactly what Randle did in 2020-21 while carrying the Knicks to the playoffs. Banchero has been assisted on 15 of his 19 3-point makes this month. The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz breaks down the Golden State stars legendary performance to close out the Kings. Plays well within himself and has a well-rounded game, contributing in multiple categories Plays poised, balanced, and always under control Doesnt have many glaring weaknesses , Weaknesses: Good form and shooting mechanics but can improve consistency. Some of his interior rotations have been precise and impactful. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility. Arguably the biggest key, though, for Banchero is his shooting touch. He got caught napping one too many times in college, although he did recover on some of those possessions to contest a shot near the basket. Eliminating the edge against him is exceptionally difficult. After watching his developed playmaking and ability to create his own shot, I started to see shades of what we saw from Knicks forward Julius Randle during his All-Star season in 2020-21. Instead, when Michigan State's defense collapsed, he delivered a slick no-look dime (in traffic!) Adding some nice - but not necessary - depth at wing should be further down on the to-do list. ORLANDO-- Paolo Banchero was picked first overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2022 NBA . The most fascinating aspect of this Magic team short term and long term is how position-less they truly are. He has a smooth shooting stroke, so there is little reason to believe it won't translate. While outside shooting may not be a strength for him, he has the confidence to take the outside shot and is a solid ball-handler as well. The floater looks like an uncomfortable push shot; its important hes experimenting right now, even if the outcomes are murky. His technical refinement, in conjunction with a special athletic profile, belies his first-year status. He finishes the play off with some balanced footwork and a ridiculously skilled fadeaway that you don't typically see from 19-year-old bigs. Orlando Magic can use a strong finish as a springboard, Franz Wagner is the best second year player in the NBA, 10 Worst Free Agent Signings in Magic History, The 5 Worst Magic Trades of the Last Decade, Top 30 Most Popular Players in Magic History, flimsy attempt to open the Rookie of the Year debate, Banchero has always stood heads and tails above everyone, February was his worst month in that category by far though, This was going to be Bancheros biggest weakness coming out of college, Orlando Magic are a reflection of their coach: Cool, calm and clear-eyed about their future, Best NBA Odds for Every Game Today (Odds, Spreads and Totals for Saturday, April 1), Orlando Magic's win/development balance tipping toward winning. Hes a good rebounder and, when he analyzes rotations properly, an impactful secondary rim protector. But hes such an amazing shot creator that defenders just cant prevent him from getting to his spots. How tall is Paolo Banchero? They dont have adequate rim protection, nor do they hoard an army of wing stoppers to mitigate their interior limitations. Shooting More pressing, though, is his general lack of attentiveness. paolo5, Position: He has all the tools to be an impactful and versatile defender with good agility at 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot wingspan, it will just come down to his attitude and desire to stay engaged on that end. So much of a rookie year is about seeing the pieces of what a player will become.