Duke basketball product joins Shaquille O'Neal on exclusive Magic list

Monday marked the first time this season that no NBA player scored 30 points or more. That said, former Duke basketball one-and-done Paolo Banchero came as close as anyone.

Banchero finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and one steal across 34 minutes of action in the Orlando Magic's 101-93 road win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Orlando's other NBA Blue Devil, center Wendell Carter Jr., posted his 15th double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 boards in 25 minutes on the floor.

The only player besides Banchero who scored 20 or more points in the contest was the Pelicans' Duke basketball product, veteran forward Brandon Ingram. He tallied 25 points, six rebounds, and five dimes in 38 minutes.

But back to Paolo Banchero. He's the leading contender for NBA Rookie of the Year. And according to ESPN, the mere 20-year-old, who went No. 1 overall at the 2022 NBA Draft, is now the first Magic rookie since legendary big man Shaquille O'Neal in 1992-93 to record at least 30 games with 20 or more points.

Paolo Banchero puts up his 30th 20-point game on the season. @Pp_doesit

- 29 PTS
- 10-18 FG
- 8 REB
- 4 AST pic.twitter.com/DlxxrizCng
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) February 28, 2023

Granted, there aren't enough games remaining for Banchero to come anywhere close to matching O'Neal's 60 outings with 20 or more points as a rookie.

Even so, there's no denying the brilliance of Banchero's rookie averages: 19.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game across his 55 appearances.

Banchero, Carter, and the Magic (26-36) have a day off before their road game against the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks (43-17) at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

Add us as a preferred source on Google