Paolo Napoleon James Banchero born November 12, 2002 is an American-Italian professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic in the NBA. He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Year in 2022. After his freshman year, he declared for the 2022 NBA Draft and was selected as the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic. Banchero went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2023.
Paolo Banchero Biography 2024
Banchero showed early signs of his athletic potential, reaching a height of 3 feet (0.9 m) by the time he was 15 months old. During his childhood, he was active in basketball, American football, and track. He played basketball at the Rotary Boys and Girls Club of Seattle and participated in camps like the Ballislife Jr. All-American Camp. His mother, a former professional player, was a significant inspiration to him. By seventh grade, Banchero had a growth spurt, increasing from 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) to 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m). He was ranked among the top 50 eighth-graders in the nation for both basketball and football.
Paolo Banchero Biography Details
| Born | November 12, 2002 (age 22)
Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
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| Nationality | American / Italian |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
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| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
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| High school | O’Dea (Seattle, Washington) |
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| College | Duke (2021–2022) |
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| NBA draft | 2022: 1st round, 1st overall pick |
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Paolo Banchero Professional Career Overview
Year | Career Milestone | Description |
2022 | NBA Draft, 1st Overall Pick | Selected by Orlando Magic as the top pick in the NBA Draft. |
2023 | NBA Rookie of the Year | Banchero was named Rookie of the Year after a stellar debut season. |
2024 | NBA All-Star Selection | Selected as a first-time NBA All-Star in February 2024. |
Early Professional Career in the NBA
Season | Team | Total Points (Regular Season) | Total Assists | Total Rebounds | Games Played |
2022–2023 | Orlando Magic | 20.0 | 3.7 | 6.9 | 72 |
2023–2024 | Orlando Magic | 22.6 | 5.4 | 6.9 | 80 |
Performance in NBA All-Star Game
Year | Points Scored | Assists | Rebounds | Field Goal Percentage | 3P% |
2024 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 | 33.3% | 0.0% |
Paolo Banchero NBA Career Statistics
Category | 2022–2023 | 2023–2024 | Career |
Points per Game (PPG) | 20.0 | 22.6 | 21.3 |
Rebounds per Game (RPG) | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
Assists per Game (APG) | 3.7 | 5.4 | 4.6 |
Steals per Game (SPG) | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
Postseason Performance
Year | Points per Game | Assists | Rebounds | Field Goal Percentage | 3P% |
2024 | 27.0 | 4.0 | 8.6 | 45.6% | 40.0% |
Paolo Banchero Personal Background
Category | Details |
Mother | Rhonda Smith Banchero (Former professional basketball player) |
Father | Mario Banchero (Played college football) |
Nationality | American / Italian |
Cousins | Chris Banchero (Professional basketball player in the Philippines) |
Banchero College Career and Achievements
Year | Points per Game (PPG) | Rebounds per Game (RPG) | Assists per Game (APG) |
2021–2022 | 17.2 | 7.8 | 3.2 |
Banchero Performance in High School
Year | Team | Points per Game | Rebounds per Game | Honors and Awards |
2020 | O’Dea High School | 22.6 | 11.0 | Washington Gatorade Player of the Year, MaxPreps National Junior of the Year |
Banchero NBA Draft and First Overall Selection
Year | Draft Position | Team |
2022 | 1st Overall | Orlando Magic |
Important Games and Milestones in Banchero NBA Career
Date | Opponent | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
Oct 19, 2022 | Detroit Pistons | 27 | 9 | 5 |
Nov 5, 2022 | Sacramento Kings | 33 | 16 | – |
Nov 2, 2023 | Utah Jazz | 30 | – | – |
Banchero High School Stats Breakdown
Year | Team | Points per Game | Assists per Game | Rebounds per Game | Blocks per Game |
Sophomore | O’Dea High School | 18.2 | 4.3 | 10.3 | 1.6 |
Family and Background
Family Member | Role | Achievements |
Rhonda Banchero | Mother, Former Professional Basketball Player | All-time scoring leader at Washington |
Mario Banchero | Father, Former College Football Player | Played for the University of Washington |
Paolo Banchero Health and Medical Updates
Date | Injury | Description |
Oct 30, 2024 | Torn Oblique | Diagnosed after game against the Chicago Bulls |
Nov 1, 2024 | Injury Update | Expected to sit out 4-6 weeks for recovery |
Paolo Banchero National Team Career
Year | National Team | Status |
2023 | United States | Played in the FIBA World Cup |
2022 | Italy | Eligible but chose USA |
Paolo Banchero Net Worth
Paolo Banchero’s net worth is $2 million.
Paolo Banchero Summary
Paolo Banchero has quickly risen as one of the NBA’s most promising young stars. With notable achievements from his high school career to his time at Duke, Banchero’s combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ has made him a standout player. Since entering the NBA as the first overall pick in 2022, he has been a consistent performer, earning Rookie of the Year honors and an All-Star selection in just his second season. His ability to impact the game offensively and defensively, combined with his leadership on the court, positions him as one of the future faces of the NBA.
