1. Paolo Banchero played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.
32 Facts About Paolo Banchero
1. 2.
Paolo Banchero was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2023.
3.
Paolo Banchero reached a height of 3 feet at 15 months of age.
4.
Paolo Banchero grew up playing basketball at Rotary Boys and Girls Club of Seattle, as well as EBC Camps most notably the Ballislife Jr.
5.
Paolo Banchero was ranked among the top 50 eighth-graders nationally in both basketball and football.
6.
Paolo Banchero was named to the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic rosters.
7.
Paolo Banchero was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2021 class.
8.
On November 29,2021, Paolo Banchero was named ACC freshman of the week for the second time.
9.
On January 17,2022, Paolo Banchero earned ACC freshman of the week honors.
10.
Paolo Banchero was named first-team All-ACC as well as ACC Rookie of the Year.
11.
On March 15,2022, Paolo Banchero was named a third-team All-American.
12.
Paolo Banchero was selected with the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2022 NBA draft.
13.
Paolo Banchero became the first player since LeBron James to put up at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in an NBA debut.
14.
Paolo Banchero became the second teenager in NBA history to put up at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a game, joining LeBron James.
15.
At the season's end, Paolo Banchero was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and earned NBA All-Rookie Team honors.
16.
On February 1,2024, Paolo Banchero was named to his first career All-Star Game as an Eastern Conference reserve.
17.
Paolo Banchero joined Shaquille O'Neal and Tracy McGrady as the only players in Magic franchise history to put up at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in a season-opening game.
18.
Paolo Banchero later stated that he played through the pain, only receiving medical attention after Orlando's loss.
19.
Paolo Banchero was expected to be re-examined four to six weeks following the initial diagnosis, and to sit out indefinitely.
20.
Paolo Banchero joined Shaquille O'Neal and Tracy McGrady as the only players in Magic franchise history to put up multiple games with at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.
21.
Paolo Banchero was eligible to play for the Italy national team and indicated his willingness to represent Italy in international competitions.
22.
Paolo Banchero was selected to their 24-man squad for the EuroBasket 2022 qualification games in November 2020; however, he did not play.
23.
In June 2023, Paolo Banchero opted to play for the 2023 US national team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
24.
Paolo Banchero said that his mother had played for Team USA, so it was always his dream.
25.
Paolo Banchero was a third-round selection in the 2000 WNBA draft and played professionally in the American Basketball League and overseas, before becoming a basketball coach at Holy Names Academy in Seattle.
26.
Paolo Banchero's parents met while attending the University of Washington.
27.
Paolo Banchero is of African-American descent on his mother's side and of Italian descent on his father's side.
28.
Paolo Banchero's paternal cousin, Chris Paolo Banchero, is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association, playing for the Meralco Bolts.
29.
On July 29,2022, the charges against Paolo Banchero were dropped after Savarino pled guilty to DUI.
30.
On May 8,2022, Paolo Banchero attended the inaugural Miami Grand Prix in Miami Gardens where he was mistakenly interviewed by Sky Sports announcer Martin Brundle believing he was Patrick Mahomes.
31.
Paolo Banchero has a rare condition that causes him to lose as many as 7 pounds each game due to excessive sweating, which leads him to experience cramps and stunt his in-game performance.
32.
Paolo Banchero has to take a sweat test and drink a special "BOA Oxygenated Fluid" to stave off cramps.