On the Orlando Magic’s opening night, number one draft pick Paolo Banchero made his debut. Banchero had a historic night, matching debut performances of greats like LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Banchero
Banchero posted an impressive 27 points, 9 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in his debut, shooting an efficient 11-for-18 from the field. He shot 5-for-7 from the line and had a +/- of +2.
Banchero is one of three number-one draft picks to debut with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and five assists, joining LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Banchero also set a new record for most points by an Orlando Magic player in a debut.
Banchero, last draft’s number-one pick, played for Duke University last year. He averaged 17.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, and 3.2 assists per game. Duke finished 32 and 7, with Banchero leading the squad in points and rebounds as a freshman.
Magic vs. Pistons
Other than Banchero’s debut, last night’s Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons matchup had some notable performances. Magic sophomore Jalen Suggs put up 21 points and 3 assists on 8-for-11 shooting. Suggs, who played for Gonzaga a couple years back, pairs up well with Banchero in Orlando.
Forward Franz Wagner posted 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, continuing to be a prominent scorer for the Magic. Last year, he averaged 15.2 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, and 2.9 assists per game with an effective field goal percentage of 52%. Bol Bol also had a solid night, adding 10 points and 6 rebounds on 4-for-6 shooting.
Magic Offseason
The Magic didn’t make many high-profile trades this offseason, but they were able to secure a couple of their most important players. The Magic held on to Gary Harris, Mo Bamba, Bol Bol and Admiral Schofield, meaning that they’ll have a strong core in addition to new draft picks like Banchero and number 32 pick Caleb Houstan.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Paolo Banchero looks to have a promising rookie season. With a historic debut and teammates like Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, Banchero is primed for a successful NBA career. The Orlando Magic, being last in the Eastern Conference last season, will likely perform better this year with new additions like Banchero.
Stay tuned for more breaking NBA content, including preseason moves, contract updates and more news from every team.
Featured image courtesy of Getty Images
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