(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic landed a true gem in Paolo Banchero.
He grew up playing the point, and that playmaking savviness and skill are still noticeable.
However, his size and length shifted him to play both forward spots, and his scoring prowess, strength, and shooting skills helped him thrive in his rookie season in the league.
Now, coach Steve Kerr has given him a whole new different challenge, and that could unleash a whole new dimension of his game.
Banchero is currently serving as Team USA’s backup big man, subbing in for Jaren Jackson Jr.
Recently, he talked to Yahoo Sports about the adjustment it takes to play center for the first time in his career, stating that he’s going to do everything he needs to find his way to the floor (via ClutchPoints).
After choosing USA over Italy, Paolo Banchero has found himself a backup to JJJ in preparation for the World Cup.
“It’s been a huge adjustment for me…The biggest thing for me is doing whatever I can to find my way on the floor.”
(via @JakeLFischer, https://t.co/IA64tZxL4g) pic.twitter.com/nyTnMMMrMY
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 24, 2023
Banchero chose to play for the U.S. after committing to Italy.
And while he likely never envisioned himself as a small-ball five, he’s not going to complain and will just embrace the opportunity to play among the best and most promising rising talents in the Association.
The Magic have built their roster based on talent, not fit, and they have some interesting jumbo lineups they could deploy next season.
Banchero’s positional versatility and skill set give his team more than enough resources to work with, and getting a full summer to work out with Team USA is going to speed up his development.
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