NBA Top 125 Rankings: Where's Magic Rookie Paolo Banchero?

Paolo Banchero emerged as a worthy selection for the No. 1 overall pick in his rookie season. Where does he rank among the rest of the NBA?

Jeremy Brener | May 6, 2023

Nathan Ray Seebeck - USA Today Sports

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - Orlando Magic power forward Paolo Banchero is looking back at a rookie season for the record books.

Banchero became one of six players in NBA history to record at least 20 points, six rebounds and three assists per game in his rookie season, making him a shoo-in for the Rookie of the Year award.

But now as he enters his first full NBA offseason, he will be compared to the rest of the league. The Ringer released its top-125 rankings for the entire NBA and placed Banchero in the No. 62 slot.

"Banchero can lower his shoulder on drives and force defenders underneath the basket with his power, before then pivoting like a dancer to create separation for explosive takeoffs," The Ringer writes. "At 6-foot-10, he possesses a rare combo of strength and fluidity that could make him one of the game’s most potent scorers. To become unstoppable, he’ll need to improve the efficiency of his jump shot, but right now his playmaking vision and interior ability are allowing him to score like few other rookies in history."

While Banchero flashed a ton of potential on the offensive end, the reason why The Ringer didn't rank the No. 1 overall pick higher was his defensive struggles.

"Banchero needs to improve on defense," The Ringer writes. "Though he’s done a good job at contesting shots around the basket, he’s a bit sluggish moving laterally on the perimeter."

At just 20 years old, Banchero has time to develop into that strong defender to pair with his already-elite offensive game. If he can find a way to improve that aspect of his game, he has the opportunity to be one of the league's best.

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Published May 6, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.