Blue Devil Country

Former Duke Basketball Star Flexes Against Defending NBA Champs

Duke basketball's Paolo Banchero has the Magic streaking, not backing down to anyone.
Matt Giles|
Former Duke basketball forward Paolo Banchero (Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports)

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Duke Blue Devils

Paolo Banchero isn't just a beyond-his-years stat producer. No, this season, the 21-year-old Duke basketball product, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic in 2022 and reigns as the NBA Rookie of the Year, is a leader for a winning bunch.

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The Magic (10-5), who entered Wednesday night's contest looking to extend a four-game win streak as they continue showing signs of immense growth from a 34-48 campaign last season, hosted two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets (10-5).

And Banchero helped ensure they sent Denver home with a 124-119 loss. He logged a team-high 35 minutes, finishing with 23 points, three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three blocks while shooting 8-for-14 from the field, 4-for-5 from deep, and 3-for-5 at the charity stripe.

It was just more of the same — no matter the competition level — for Duke basketball's 2021-22 ACC Rookie of the Year.

Through 15 games this go-round, most of Paolo Banchero's numbers resemble those from last season. He's averaged 19.4 points (down from 20.0 per game his rookie year), 6.4 rebounds (down from 6.9), 4.3 assists (up from 3.7), 1.2 steals (up from 0.8), and 0.7 blocks (up from 0.5).

Again, though, one key difference lies in this squad's win percentage: 66.7, up from 26.7, or 4-11, at this time juncture last year.

Another difference is his shooting percentages from the field: 47.7 overall, compared to 42.7 last year, and 45.5 beyond the arc, up from 29.8 as a rookie.

Banchero and the Magic (their other NBA Blue Devil, Wendell Carter Jr., remains out with a broken finger) hope to make it six straight when they welcome the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics (12-3) and fellow former Duke basketball one-and-done Jayson Tatum to Orlando on Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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