Magic PF Paolo Banchero Becoming 'Offensive Focal Point'
ORLANDO - Paolo Banchero proved the Orlando Magic made the right decision last season by taking him No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. Now, heading into his second season, can he improve his game even more on offense?
"When the Magic landed last summer's top pick, the board broke just right for Banchero to be the obvious choice as both the top player on the board and the one who best filled their need," Bleacher Report wrote. "They had to find an offensive focal point, and the 6'10" forward proved up to the task. By season's end, he was a near-unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year and just the 12th freshman ever to average 20 points, six rebounds and three assists."
As a rookie, Banchero was the leading scorer for the Magic, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for growth offensively. His 20 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and the fact that he shot 30 percent from three in 2022 are encouraging signs of what he could potentially become.
Banchero has All NBA potential if he can continue improving his three-point shot and improve Orlando's spacing as a whole. Winning Rookie of The Year is a fantastic way to begin your career, but as Ben Simmons quickly learned during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, with success comes heightened expectations.
In order for Banchero to satisfy Magic fans in his second season, he should focus on improving his offensive game so that Orlando can at least make the Play In tournament and give fans hope for the organization's first playoff berth since 2019.
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