ORLANDO, FLA- As initially announced by the NBA’s social media accounts, Orlando Magic power forward Paolo Banchero has won the 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. In doing so, Banchero becomes just the 3rd player in Magic Franchise History to win the award, alongside sharpshooter small forward Mike Miller (2001) and hall of fame center Shaquille O’Neal (1993).
Standing at 6’5″ and 250 pounds, Banchero exceeded all expectations in his rookie season after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2023 draft. In 72 starts (72 games) this season, Banchero averaged 33.8 MPG, 20.0 PPG (1st for rookies, 6.9 RPG (4th for rookies), and 3.7 APG (3rd for rookies) on 42.7% shooting from the field and 73.8% from the free-throw line. In addition, Banchero was excellent on defense, notching 60 steals (4th for rookies) and 39 blocks (8th for rookies), while also posting a DWS of 2.5, the highest mark among all 2022-2023 rookies.
Since making his NBA debut on October 19th, 2022, versus the Detroit Pistons, Banchero has excelled at scoring in all three levels of the court, as shown by Banchero’s 38 games in scoring 20+ points and five games scoring 30+ points, per Statmuse. Notwithstanding a team-high 27.5% usage rate, Banchero was still efficient, recording a PER of 14.9 and a true shooting percentage of 52.9%. Due to scoring 20+ points in 40 games this season, Banchero only trails O’Neal for the most such games (60) in Orlando Magic Franchise History.
Similarly, Banchero’s 27-point, nine-rebound, and five-assist outing versus Detroit made him just the third No. 1 pick since 1969 to have at least 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists in an NBA debut, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James. In his tenth start of the season 17 days later, made history again, recording 33 points and 16 rebounds in a 133-136 OT loss to the Sacramento Kings. As a result, Banchero became the second teenager in NBA history to record 30+ points and 15+ rebounds in a game, joining James, who did it in 2003 versus Memphis.
“He has been exceptional, playing great ball. A three-level scorer so far in this league — in the paint, midrange and from outside pretty well as of late,” James said of Banchero following the Lakers’ 129-110 win versus the Magic on December 27th. “He is only going to get better and better. Every game he’ll get better and better, every film session he’ll get better and better. All of these experiences are really good for him on a game-to-game basis.”
With the arrival of Banchero in Orlando, the Magic were one of the most improved teams in the NBA, going from 22-60 in the 2021-2022 season to 34-48 in the 2022-2023 season. Furthermore, Orlando posted a 111.6 offensive rating (26th in NBA), 114.2 defensive rating (16th in NBA), and -2.6 net rating (24th in NBA) this season, all better than last season’s marks of a 104.5 offensive rating (30th in NBA), 112.5 defensive rating (17th in NBA), and -8.0 net rating (27th in NBA).
In addition to winning the 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, Banchero earned plenty of other accolades from the 2022-2023 season. For reference, Banchero made the 2023 NBA Rising Stars Tournament, in which he helped lead Team Gasol defeat Team Joakim 25-20. Similarly, Banchero was named as the NBA’s Rookie of the Month in December, January, February, and March, tying O’Neal’s mark of four ROTM during the 1992-1993 season. Although Banchero did struggle with his shot multiple times during the four-month stretch, the former University of Duke standout still posted solid statlines for each month.
December: 15 Starts, 33.5 MPG, 19.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 40.7% FG, 33.9% 3-Point, 78.2% FT.
January: 14 Starts, 32.7 MPG, 20.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 42.9% FG, 32.9% 3-Point, 78.1% FT.
February: 11 Starts, 33.7 MPG, 16.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 37.4% FG, 3.0% 3-Point, 71.1% FT.
March: 15 Starts, 34.0 MPG, 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 44.5 FG, 37.0% 3-Point, 71.7% FT.
As shown by the stat lines listed above, February was a tough month for Banchero, especially from three-point range. Across the entire month, Banchero went just 1-33 from downtown, the lowest mark ever by the Rookie of the Year. In spite of this, Banchero’s three-point shots began to fall in March, as Banchero went 20-54 from beyond the arc, the best mark of any month for him this season.
“Our season is over, but I think everyone can see where we’re headed and what we’ve got in front of us, Banchero told AP News. “This year was definitely a step forward and I think not making the playoffs just leaves everyone hungry — hungry for more. We will be more motivated headed into next year, next season. Everybody around here is excited. Players, coaches, staff, everybody. I think we can all feel the energy now.
As it turned out, Banchero wasn’t the only member to play extremely well during the 2022-2023 season. First, 2021-2022 All-Rookie First Team small forward Franz Wagner averaged 32.8 MPG, 18.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 0.9 SPG on 48.5% shooting from the field, 36.2% from downtown, and 83.9% from the charity stripe in 74 starts, all career-highs. Similarly, Markell Fultz starred as the Magic’s lead point guard, posting career-best averages of 29.9 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.7 APG, and 1.5 SPG on 51.4% shooting from the field in 59 starts. Finally, point guard Cole Anthony, small forward Bol Bol, and power forward Wendell Carter Jr. all enjoyed career years amid the arrival of Banchero.
“He’s gonna be something like real special. He already is something special, but like as the game continues to slow down for him … I’m super excited,” Fultz said on the “Knuckleheads” Podcast. “I’m honored that I have a chance to be able to be a point guard that can help him right now. I’m just glad I have a chance to give him my little jewels and stuff like that to become one of the best players that he can be.”
Amid Banchero’s record-setting rookie season, it may have never even happened, as the Magic were strongly considering selecting Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren or Auburn’s Jabari Smith with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. All told, Orlando picked Banchero, and Holmgren and Smith were selected by Oklahoma City and Houston with the following two selections. With Holmgren suffering a season-ending lisfranc fracture and Smith enduring numerous shooting slumps, Banchero took advantage of the opportunity, serving as one of Orlando’s most dynamic and durable players during the 2022-2023 season.
“It’s been a year now, almost, and Orlando definitely feels like home. It’s starting to really feel like home. I think the first couple months, obviously I was living there, but it didn’t really feel all the way like home,” Banchero told AP News. “Now just being around the city, spending every day there — and I’ll be there in the offseason — yeah, I can call it home. And I can’t wait for next season.”
The 2022-23 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year is… Paolo Banchero!#KiaROY | #NBAAwards | @Kia pic.twitter.com/zdlmQS6682
— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2023