If the last two NBA seasons have demonstrated anything, it is that Paolo Banchero is rapidly ascending as one of the league’s celebrated names.
The 22-year-old continues to exercise his dominance, and now he is being recognized as a top 20 player by ESPN. Banchero lands at No. 17, ahead of players such as Jimmy Butler, Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard.
“Banchero is a top-20 player, but Orlando is banking on its All-Star being ready to take a significant leap forward.,” ESPN’s Insiders wrote. “The Magic signed Banchero to a five-year, $239-million max rookie extension this past summer and worked to surround him with his best supporting cast yet, adding Desmond Bane's scoring and much-needed outside shooting to give Banchero and Franz Wagner more space to operate.”
“Banchero has improved statistically in each of his first three seasons, raising his scoring average to 25.9 PPG last season after missing 34 games with an oblique injury. If the Magic are going to get out of the first round and contend for the East, Banchero will have to stay healthy and take another step forward.”
Banchero’s play has earned him accolades such as Rookie Of the Year, an All-Star selection and an All-Rookie team selection. This summer, the Magic awarded him with a five-year deal, keeping him in Central Florida as the face of the franchise for years to come.
While Banchero’s regular season numbers continue to trend upward, his postseason numbers put his excellence on full display. In his two postseason appearances, Banchero is averaging 28 points while shooting 41.8 percent from the perimeter.
These numbers are a dramatic increase from his regular season averages, in which he has posted 22.4 points per game while shooting only 32 percent from deep in his first three seasons as a pro. Despite only playing five playoff games last season, Banchero still achieved the sixth-best scoring average in the postseason (29.4 ppg).
There are reasons Banchero is not higher up on this list, namely his 3-point struggles and lack of defensive production (less than one steal/block on average) compared to some of his contemporaries in higher rankings. However, Banchero’s ability to tap into another gear when the lights are the brightest proves his capabilities to lead a team on a deep playoff run.
Now, he may have the team to provide enough support. In any case, no one should be surprised if Banchero moves closer to the top 10 sooner than later.