Paolo Banchero has become a franchise cornerstone for the Orlando Magic since the team selected him with the No. 1 pick during the 2022 NBA Draft. But despite his steady play, Banchero has never been marketed the same way as some of his fellow top overall picks, including Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Zion Williamson, and Cooper Flagg.
During a recent appearance on Dawg Talk, Banchero pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as the main reason, as the Orlando Magic forward was among those who didn’t get the full college experience because of it.
“Both of them (Zion and Flagg) are great players, and all the hype they get is very warranted. I think my situation was a lot different. I came up during COVID. People don’t mention that, and I think that had a big effect. I didn’t get a senior year of high school, really,” Banchero explained.
“My whole senior year of high school was online. High school was shut down. The world was going through such a crazy time. No one from my class really got that hype. It was Chet and I really, but COVID kind of clouded all that. We didn’t get a McDonald’s All-American Game,” he added.
Orlando Magic News: Paolo Banchero is eager to play more games together with Franz Wagner
The Orlando Magic didn’t get to see Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner play as many games together as they’d like last season due to injuries, and Banchero is eager to get more out of their partnership this year.
“I’m honored to get to play alongside him and take little bits and pieces from his game and what he is able to do out there and add it to my game,” Banchero said of Wagner on the Internal Reps podcast. “He does so many great things on the floor. It’s really impressive. Me and him, if we are able to figure it out, I think we can win a championship together. It’s just a matter of time.”
“When we are both being aggressive, that’s when we’re at our best… Both of us are very unselfish and very team-oriented. I feel like with us there are no personal agendas between me and him. We just want to win and get Orlando to a place it has never been before,” he continued.