Paolo Banchero’s star turn is already here: ‘He’s going to be a household name’

SAN ANTONIO — The inaugural Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, awarded to the 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year, is on display in Paolo Banchero’s home, on a table behind his couch. It’s in a safe, but prominent place.

Make no mistake, winning that honor meant something to Banchero, and to the Orlando Magic, the franchise he has helped catapult out of the abyss.

“That was always a goal of mine, being able to come in my first year in the league and win that award,” Banchero said. “Last year, that was on my mind. I was focused on getting adjusted but also just making sure I could win that award. I think it’s important. I think all rookies should want to win it, especially the top picks.

“Yeah, I was excited when I did.”

Another honor could be Banchero’s very soon.

The 6-foot-10 power forward, his teammates and his coaches are hoping he’ll be named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve, and Banchero said he intends to watch Thursday night’s announcement of the reserves from the Magic’s hotel in Minneapolis. The field of contenders for the three frontcourt reserve spots and two East wild-card spots is crowded, but he has a legitimate chance. Not only has he led his team to a 25-23 record, but also he is averaging 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

In a matchup Wednesday between the NBA’s last two No. 1 picks, Banchero led the Magic over Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs 108-98.

It was a vintage 25-point night for Banchero. The Duke alumnus overpowered smaller opponents when Orlando engineered mismatches. He sped past defenders on cuts for layups. And he swished a pair of 3-pointers from the top of the arc.

“Paolo’s playing great,” said Franz Wagner, the Magic’s other starting forward and an emerging star. “I think his poise, his confidence that he has — everybody else is picking up on that, and it has an impact on the whole group. That’s his way of leading the team.”

Last summer, Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley challenged Banchero to improve on defense and make faster decisions on catches, and Banchero has met Mosley’s expectations thanks in part to extensive film study during the offseason. Although Wagner, guard Jalen Suggs and reserve big man Jonathan Isaac receive well-deserved attention for their defense, Banchero has been a key contributor, too. The Magic now rank fifth leaguewide in defensive efficiency.

In a microcosm of his season so far, Banchero did it all against San Antonio, collecting nine rebounds and dishing out seven assists.

“I think he played at an All-Star level,” Mosley said. “I think he was willing to take on defensive challenges, offensively trying to make the right play, getting guys involved, finding the right pass.”

The Magic roster includes a bunch of intense, high-energy players with Banchero at the top of the list. Part of it is their collective youth, with their starters Wednesday night — Markelle Fultz, Suggs, Wagner, Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. — ranging in age from 21 to 25. Banchero is the youngest of the quintet.

But Orlando’s intensity also stems in small part from a sense that it feels underestimated and unappreciated. The Magic last appeared in the playoffs in 2020 — before most of the current players joined the team. Also, it’s a source of frustration for the players that they haven’t had any national television appearances on TNT or ESPN yet, though they have been on NBA TV four times and have a TNT game scheduled for Feb. 13, the night when the franchise will retire Shaquille O’Neal’s jersey. At least some of Banchero’s teammates think he’s being overlooked as a result.

Guard Cole Anthony likes to call Banchero the league’s “most underappreciated player.”

“He’s a superstar, but I think people are still learning about him, which is mind-boggling to me,” Anthony said.

On Wednesday, Banchero was overshadowed by Wembanyama, for obvious reasons. To be fair, all eyes in every NBA venue this season have been on Wembanyama, who finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and five blocks.

Magic players — Banchero included — were facing the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama for the first time.

“It was kind of funny,” Banchero said. “At first, you’re just taken aback by (his height). His presence out there, you can feel it. He kind of deters you from the rim. You don’t want to go up and just give him a free block. It makes you think some more, change your angles a lot more, change the way you attack a little bit.

“But he’s a great player. He’s a rookie. I remember being in that position last year, just figuring it all out, and it’s going to be scary once he gets a year, two years or three years under his belt.”

Wagner called Wembanyama “unbelievable.”

“For him to have such an impact so early, it’s going to be tough to play against him for a bunch of years,” Wagner added.

Then again, the Magic have a star of their own: Banchero, who is only 21.

“It’s like anything in life: Nothing happens right away,” Banchero said. “You get drafted, and it’s a process. Last year was a step in the process. This year is a step in a process. Next year is going to be the same thing. Nothing happens overnight. We’re not going to be champions by just hoping and saying, ‘Work hard.’

“It’s going to take years and years of building and just working. Just having that perspective makes you just want to work every day to get closer to that, because this is the best league in the world. If you become impatient, you’re just going to drive yourself crazy.”

Thursday night, however, might bring an individual accomplishment — an All-Star nod — that often takes players years to achieve.

“He’s going to be a household name,” Anthony said.

(Top photo of Paolo Banchero and Victor Wembanyama: Daniel Dunn / USA Today)