During his first year with the Orlando Magic, Paolo Banchero instantly became one of the biggest stars on the team and also earned one of the league’s highest honors.
Now he’s taking his talents to the World Cup as one of the most exciting players on Team USA.
In their first game of the tournament, Banchero came off the bench but was vitally important.
He scored a team-high 21 points and 4 blocks on 8-of-10 from the field and 2-of-2 from the three-point line.
Paolo off the bench:
21 PTS
4 BLK
8-10 FG
2-2 3PLed team USA in scoring. pic.twitter.com/itBbFWb9JL
— StatMuse (@statmuse) August 26, 2023
If Banchero keeps playing like this, he might not be a bench player for much longer.
The fact that he’s part of the second unit shows just how talented and stacked this Team USA roster is.
But head coach Steve Kerr and the rest of his staff might make some adjustments to allow Banchero to shine even more.
Banchero has been surpassing expectations since the start of his career last fall.
He was the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and was instantly spoken of as a possible Rookie of the Year candidate.
After a first-season average of 20 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, Banchero rightfully earned that honor.
Although his Magic were still toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings last season, some people think they could be a team on the rise over the next few seasons.
That is partly due to what Banchero is capable of.
Before his second season begins, Banchero is ready to keep proving himself and make his country proud.
NEXT:
Paolo Banchero Reveals ‘1 Huge Adjustment’ He’s Made On Team USA
