Magic PF Paolo Banchero Flexing 'Dominance' in Rookie Season

Paolo Banchero has had a stronghold over the top spot in the NBA's weekly Rookie Ladder all season, and is on pace to take home the coveted award.

Paolo Banchero is still No. 1.

The rookie from Duke was ranked atop the latest Rookie Ladder from NBA.com.

"Banchero maintained his grip on the top spot, his favorite status for upcoming Rookie of the Year balloting and his dominance among the East’s newcomers, snagging his third consecutive Rookie of the Month award in the conference," NBA.com writes. "He has had to grind a bit more lately, compensating for accuracy issues by upping his shots to 18.8 per game last week and fighting through a 1-for-35 stretch from the arc by going 5-of-15 his past three games. He ranks 10th in the NBA in free throw attempts, shooting more than vets such as Pascal Siakam, Jalen Brunson and Nikola Jokic."

Banchero has given the Magic bang for its buck all season long. He has lived up to expectations, ranking first among rookies with 20.0 points as well as fourth with 6.6 rebounds, on 42.3 percent shooting from the field per game.

Banchero has had five 30-point games in 2022-23, 10 games with double-figure rebounds -- all in double-double efforts -- and all but four games in which he has attempted 10 or more field goals, exemplifying the confidence that coach Jamahl Mosley has in his budding star.

The eye test shows that Banchero possesses the unique ability to create for himself in isolation. He gets from point a to point b on the wing while rising up over taller or shorter defenders, and gets the step on his defenders when attacking the rim. Banchero has shown precocity in his feel for the NBA game, and has not slowed down since his 27-point season opener against the Detroit Pistons. 

Keeping him atop the ladder was a 31-point performance on March 3, against the Charlotte Hornets in an 11-point win. Banchero has formed a promising duo with teammate Franz Wagner, forecasting to be the backbone of a rebuilding Magic team with an abundance of young and quickly developing talent. 

Banchero looks to run through the tape en route to the 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year award as the Magic have seven of its remaining 15 games at home. 

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