(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
On Tuesday, Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.
It was a well-deserved award, especially considering that this season’s crop of rookies hasn’t been a very strong one.
Banchero averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game during the regular season, and one has to imagine that his game can only improve over the next few years.
PAOLO BANCHERO WINS THE 2023 NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD pic.twitter.com/W8pWAa4yaM
— ESPN (@espn) April 25, 2023
Fans are happy for him and feel the sky is the limit for him.
Dude’s a baller. Future’s bright pic.twitter.com/BmGkLDtk1U
— Colin AKA GhostPanda (@GhostPandaCol) April 25, 2023
Should’ve been an all-star this year too
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) April 25, 2023
Bro won the award since October
— Mian Tasnum (@nolimit_34) April 25, 2023
However, some felt Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings should’ve gotten more consideration for the award, even if he didn’t deserve it.
Deserved. Keegan Murray broke records though..
— shoe (@FFTalk24) April 25, 2023
Well too bad that Sacramento kings rookie Keegan murray didn’t make it as a finalist for rookie of the year even though I predicted Keegan murray to win rookie of the year for the entire season so congratulations Paolo banchero on winning rookie of the year
— Jacob Winston (@thedirtydog98) April 25, 2023
Going into the 2022 NBA Draft, there was a debate as to whether Banchero or Gonzaga University big man Chet Holmgren should be the first player selected.
The Magic opted for Banchero over Holmgren, and it turned out to be a good choice, especially after Holmgren suffered a foot injury during a pro-am game last summer that cost him all of this season.
Banchero’s shooting percentages were low this season, and approaching 50 percent overall shooting and reaching at least 35 percent shooting from 3-point range could singlehandedly make him a borderline superstar not too long from now.
Orlando may not end up winning the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, as they won twice as many games as the Detroit Pistons, who had the NBA’s worst record, but they have a few other interesting prospects, including forward Franz Wagner and big man Wendell Carter Jr.
They haven’t gotten past the first round of the playoffs since 2010, but that streak may end in the not too distant future.
The post Fans React To Today’s Paolo Banchero News appeared first on The Cold Wire.