Orlando Magic end Paolo Banchero’s stint in the NBA’s Summer League
Though it might seem strange, the franchise believe Banchero has more than proved himself, such that it’s time to give others a chance to do the same.
It looks like the NBA’s 2022 No. 1 overall pick is worth the hype after his team decided they’d seen enough of his expertise in the Summer League.
Orlando Magic call time Paolo Banchero’s Summer League adventure.
According to reports, the Orlando Magic won’t be letting Duke prodigy Paolo Banchero play in the NBA’s Summer League any more. The news comes following head coach Jamahl Mosley comments to reporters on Monday when he indicated that he’d seen enough of the No. 1 pick and would prefer to put his minutes to use elsewhere.
“I want to give these other guys an opportunity to play, to kind of be able to show what they’re capable of doing,” Mosley said. “That’s the point of Summer League, you know — give them a chance. ...An opportunity for these other guys to see what they’re capable of doing. And we’ve seen what Paolo was capable of doing.”
How has Paolo Banchero performed in the Summer League?
To be clear, Banchero being benched is not because he hasn’t lived up to the expectation surrounding him. Quite the opposite in fact as he’s been nothing short of exceptional in his appearances. With a Summer League average of 20 points, six rebounds and five assists in the two games he played, the rookie has well and truly lived up to the hype. This past Saturday, Banchero provided not one, but two game winning plays during the weekend’s sudden-death double overtime win against the Sacramento Kings. First, he denied Neemias Queta’s dunk attempt with a block on one end before assisting Emmanuel Terry for the game-winning shot on the very next possession.
What did Paolo Banchero have to say about being shut down?
Speaking with the media after the news was announced that he would no longer play, Banchero indicated that he understood the decision. “They suggested what was best for me and I didn’t wanna really push back or nothing,” Banchero said. “I was happy with how I played, they were happy with how I played. We were 2-0. Could’ve won this one as well. They were comfortable with doing that and I wasn’t gonna give them any pushback.”
When asked directly if he wanted to continue he answered with a simple “Yes,” before going on to say, “They suggested what was best for me & I didn’t wanna really push back or nothing. I was happy with how I played, they were happy with how I played. We were 2-0. They were comfortable with it.”
The future looks bright for Paolo Banchero
While it’s clear that the NBA’s Summer League isn’t the same level of competition as the actual regular season, it’s most definitely a case of ‘so far so good’ for the league’s No. 1 overall pick. That’s precisely why the Orlando Magic have taken the decision to firstly, stop the risk of injury and secondly, give looks to other players who are still fighting for a spot on the roster. Something that Banchero is clearly no longer doing. If there is one disappointing factor in the scenario, it’s that fans won’t be able to see any more of a player - this summer - who surely has a bright future in the NBA. November seems a long way away.