The Magic Insider

Magic Rookie Paolo Banchero: NBA All-Star This Season?

Paolo Banchero has been wowing in his first 10 NBA games. Could the Orlando Magic rookie make history and be an All-Star in his first season?

Jeremy Brener

Magic Rookie Paolo Banchero: NBA All-Star This Season?
Magic Rookie Paolo Banchero: NBA All-Star This Season? /

ORLANDO - Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero continues to make history.

In his 10th NBA game on Saturday, Banchero scored 33 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a loss to the Sacramento Kings. With his stat line, he became just the second teenager in league history to record 30+ points and 15+ rebounds in a game, joining LeBron James on the list, who completed the feat in 2003.

The No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft has made the Magic front office look very smart for selecting him after many believed Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith Jr. would be the pick. But Banchero doesn't care about the past. He's focused on the present and how it can affect his future.

After 10 games, he is averaging 22.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game ... one of few in the top 30 in each category. And his early-season success has people thinking he could make the Eastern Conference All-Star team this season.

Banchero would be the first rookie named an All-Star since Blake Griffin back in 2011 and just the eighth player to accomplish the feat since 1990. It's rare, but doable if Banchero continues along the trajectory he has started for himself in his career.

Banchero and the Magic are back in action Monday against the Houston Rockets. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

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Jeremy Brener
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.

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