Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Another Big Honor for NBA Blue Devil Paolo Banchero

Folks are paying attention to what Duke basketball product Paolo Banchero is doing in Orlando.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball forward Paolo Banchero (Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)
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For the first time in his career, former Duke basketball one-and-done and current Orlando Magic sophomore Paolo Banchero is the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, the NBA announced on Monday afternoon.

The 21-year-old forward, last season's NBA Rookie of the Year after going No. 1 overall to Orlando, is only the 13th Magic player in history to earn the Player of the Week distinction. And he's the first to do so since November 2019 (the last season the franchise reached the NBA Playoffs).

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Orlando (12-5) has won seven straight, matching the Phoenix Suns for league's longest active streak, thanks in large part to Paolo Banchero's continued yet ever-expanding brilliance on the court.

Consistency is the name of Banchero's scoring game these days. In each of the past five outings, he's tallied between 23 and 25 points, shooting at least 50 percent from the field every time.

Through 17 games — add durability to Banchero's list of upsides, as he hasn't sat out a single contest this season — he's averaging 19.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals. He's shooting 48.8 percent from the field and an impressive 43.6 percent beyond the arc (with 3.2 attempts from three per game).

Paolo Banchero and the Magic, who are still without the services of 2017-18 Duke basketball one-and-done Wendell Carter Jr. (absent from the lineup since early November with a hand injury), host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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