When he made his NBA debut for the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, Paolo Banchero grabbed all the attention. Unfortunately, the Magic’s 113-109 loss to the Detroit Pistons ruined the otherwise fantastic evening for the No. 1 overall choice.
Banchero received compliments on a par with LeBron James’ after scoring 27 points in his first game as a pro. In 35 minutes of play, the 19-year-old shot 11 of 19 from the field while adding nine rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. If only the Magic had been able to eke out a victory, it would have been the ideal start for the former Duke superstar.
Banchero, though, was not entirely satisfied with his performance. Banchero said that he was happy with his solid start but also acknowledged that he could have done more (h/t ClutchPoint on Twitter):
Me being me I felt like I could ve had 30 something, Banchero said. “I missed a bunch of layups, but I’m blessed. Thanks for my teammates and (I’m) excited to get my NBA journey started off on a good note.”
It s a blessing, me being me I felt like I could ve had 30 somthin .
Paolo Banchero in high spirits after his historic performance but knows he has even more to give pic.twitter.com/UudZAfdnSr
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 20, 2022
That’s the attitude you love to see in a young man, right there. It is obvious that Paolo Banchero isn’t content to sit back on the strength of his outstanding performance. Although he did not downplay the significance of his accomplishment, the 6-foot-10 small forward’s intense competition is obvious.
Banchero and the Magic will now try to make up for their defeat on opening night when they play again on Thursday against a brand-new Atlanta Hawks team.
The article Paolo Banchero, a rookie with the Magic, expresses deep regret following his LeBron James-like debut against the Pistons, which first appeared on ClutchPoints.
