NBA
Paolo Banchero’s debut in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League 2022: complete stats and highlights
The world got their first glimpse of the #1 pick Paolo Banchero on Thursday night when he made his debut in the Summer League against the Houston Rockets.
The number one overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Paolo Banchero, made his long awaited Summer League Debut on Thursday night as the Orlando Magic beat the Houston Rockets ……. in Las Vegas.
Banchero vs. Smith Jr.
The matchup featured Banchero, and the number three overall pick Jabari Smith Jr. who was widely thought to go to the Magic with the third pick.
It was the opening Summer League game for both teams who finished at the bottom of the standings last season, and are hoping for their youngsters drafted over the last couple of years to make an impact and bring them from the bottom of the bottom to competing for playoff positioning.
In his Summer League debut, the former Duke Blue Devil started the first quarter with eight points of a perfect 3/3 shooting from the field and 2/2 from the free throw line. He would end the night with 17 points, four rebounds and six assists.
Houston’s third overall selection Jabari Smith Jr. had a slow start to the game scoring just three points through the first two quarters and change, but ended the night with 10 points, seven rebound and three assists.
Can these two turn things around in year one?
Banchero averaged 17.2 ponts and 7.8 rebound for the Duke Blue Devils in his first and only year under Coach Mike Kryzewski. He led the Dukies all the way to the Final Four before losing to arch rival, the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Jabari Smith Jr. posted 16.9 points a game while dragging down 7.4 rebounds in his sole year at Aubrun.
Being two top-three picks in the 2022 NBA Draft, these two players will be tied together for years to come. In their first match up it was Paolo Banchero who came out on top
Second overall draft pick Chet Holmgren made his debut for Oklahoma City on Tuesday against the lengthy youngster put up 23 points, seven rebound, four assists and six blocks in his first bit of Summer League action.
All three players are expected to have immediate impacts to their teams, who were all the bottom feeders of the NBA last season.