As the No. 1 choose in final yr’s draft, Orlando Magic ahead Paolo Banchero confronted a plethora of expectations — internally and externally.
He met his personal exceptions as a rookie whereas exceeding others.
“I wouldn’t say I exceeded them but I definitely met them,” Banchero mentioned. “I did everything I wanted to do in my first year. It’s definitely time to take it to another level this next year. That’s what I’m excited about.”
While shifting his focus to his offseason work, Banchero additionally took time to mirror on the season that led to him being the betting favourite for Rookie of the Year.
With averages of 20 factors, 6.9 rebounds and three.7 assists, he turned the twelfth rookie within the league’s historical past to common a minimum of 20 factors, 6 rebounds and three assists for a season.
At 33.8 minutes, Banchero averaged the third-fewest minutes amongst that group.
Walter Davis (1977-78), Larry Bird (1979-80), Michael Jordan (1984-85), Blake Griffin (2010-11) and Luka Dončić (2018-19) are the one gamers to achieve these statistical benchmarks as rookies because the 1976-77 marketing campaign — the primary season after the NBA-ABA merger.
Banchero was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month 4 consecutive instances, a feat solely Shaquille O’Neal achieved within the Magic’s historical past.
“It’s super encouraging knowing you can come into this league as a rookie and be successful, earn the respect of guys who’ve been in the league,” Banchero mentioned.
His rookie season didn’t come with out hiccups regardless of the historic statistical manufacturing and being a big issue behind Orlando’s 12-win enchancment from final season.
Banchero averaged 16.6 factors, 7.5 rebounds and three.3 assists in 11 February video games — a month through which he made just one of 33 3-pointers (3%).
Part of that droop may very well be attributed to the “nerve damage” Banchero revealed in early April that he suffered in his proper arm/hand (capturing hand) through the Magic’s Jan. 30 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
But he bounced again, averaging 20.3 factors, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists and capturing 38.7% on 3s (24 of 62) in his closing 17 video games.
“In terms of being able to have success but also learn a lot and deal with not having success and then bounce back, I’d give myself an ‘A’ on that just being able to handle the highs and lows of the season,” Banchero responded when requested what grade he’d give his rookie season. “Obviously, there’s stuff I didn’t do that I will do in the future and stuff I got to get better at. In terms of just coming in as the No. 1 pick not knowing what to expect in terms of life on the court and life off the court, kind of come in nose wide open, I handled it pretty well.”
One of probably the most encouraging components for Banchero: he’s solely 20 years previous and nonetheless has loads of room to develop in all areas of the sport.
“There’s so many ways in which he can grow,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. “A lot of times rookies will come in and they’ll try to do everything. The biggest thing I talk with him about is just to have a level of focus on one or two pieces for the summer. Where he can improve in certain areas. He’s going to work. I don’t think that’s going to be any question whatsoever. But now it’s the tightened-up focus on the small details of things and how we can improve there. The more he can just focus on one or two things for the summer will improve him highly.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com