Magic PF Paolo Banchero Has 'Loose Grip' on Rookie of the Year Award
ORLANDO - All season long, No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero has dazzled for the Orlando Magic and has been the clear favorite to be the Rookie of the Year.
However, The Athletic says that he doesn't have the award wrapped up yet going into the final stretch of the season.
"Paolo Banchero remains No. 1, but he has company in the top tier, and his grip on the Rookie of the Year award is looser than ever," The Athletic writes. "He’s the top option on the Orlando Magic and undeniably deals with more defensive attention than any other rookie because of his polished offensive game. Having said that, Banchero’s production has tailed off in his last 20 games. He’s averaging just under 19 points while shooting 40.4 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from 3, and he’s getting to the line slightly less often than he did early in the season. Because of that, his true shooting percentage over that time has dipped to 48.1, nearly 10 points below the league average."
His biggest competitor? Not Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin, who has been the second-best rookie in terms of scoring averages at 16.6 points per game, but rather Oklahoma City Thunder wing Jalen Williams, the No. 12 pick in the draft and the third selection made by the team.
"Jalen Williams is surging in his most recent 20 games, averaging 18.1 points while shooting 55.9 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from 3," The Athletic writes. "He has a 64.9 true shooting percentage in that time."
Williams has been fantastic, but his rise in the Rookie of the Year race has to do with his recent play, not the body of work shown over the season. Banchero has consistently been the league's best rookie, and his bar to perform is much higher than everyone else's. That should give him the inside path towards taking home some hardware at season's end.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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