Magic PF Paolo Banchero Named to All-Rookie Team; Who Joins Him?

Unsurprisingly, Orlando Magic No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero is apart of this year's All-Rookie First Team.

Jeremy Brener | May 8, 2023

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - Orlando Magic power forward Paolo Banchero can add another accomplishment to his long résumé.

The NBA announced Monday that the Rookie of the Year has been named to the All-Rookie First Team.

Alongside Banchero, Oklahoma City wing Jalen Williams, Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler, Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray and Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin were also on the First Team.

The Second Team includes Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons), Tari Eason (Houston Rockets) Jaden Ivey (Detroit Pistons), Jabari Smith Jr. (Houston Rockets), and Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs).

Over 72 games this year, Banchero averaged 20 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists, joining Blake Griffin, Michael Jordan, Grant Hill, Larry Johnson, Larry Bird, Walter David as the only first-year player since the NBA-ABA merger that has averaged at least 19 points, six rebounds and three assists, per ESPN.

With Banchero being selected, it marks two straight years of a Magic player making the team. Banchero is the 11th player in franchise history to make the All-Rookie First Team, joining Dennis Scott (1991), Shaquille O'Neal (1993), Penny Hardaway (1994), Matt Harpring (1999), Mike Miller (2001), Drew Gooden (2003), Dwight Howard (2005), Victor Oladipo (2014), Elfrid Payton (2015) and Franz Wagner (2022).

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Published May 8, 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.