The Magic Insider

'That Kid is So Talented': Magic PG Cole Anthony Raves About Rookie Paolo Banchero

The Duke-UNC connection is about to take over Orlando.

Jeremy Brener

'That Kid is So Talented': Magic PG Cole Anthony Raves About Rookie Paolo Banchero
'That Kid is So Talented': Magic PG Cole Anthony Raves About Rookie Paolo Banchero /

ORLANDO - They haven't shared the court as teammates in the NBA yet, but Orlando Magic point guard Cole Anthony and No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero have a connection.

On the night of the draft, Anthony welcomed Banchero to the team in a unique way, finding an old photo of the No. 1 overall pick and posting it to his Twitter.

Then, shortly after the draft, video surfaced of Banchero working out with Anthony in New York in attempt to build some early chemistry.

As a third-year pro, Anthony is looking to become a vocal leader for the team and a source of energy to rally the Magic from exiting the doldrums of the Eastern Conference. Getting Banchero involved with the team is an early step in the right direction.

"That kid is so talented," Anthony told ESPN's Cassidy Hubbard. "He loves the game ... He works hard, he has a really high ceiling. I think he's going to be really good."

During his first two Summer League games, Banchero has lived by Anthony's high praise. In his debut Thursday against the Houston Rockets, the No. 1 overall pick finished with 17 points in a win. He was able to top that performance Saturday against the Sacramento Kings with 23 points, six rebounds and six assists ... including the game-winning pass in a sudden-death overtime win.

Banchero's hard work is paying off so far, and he's a necessary part of the Magic's winning formula as the top pick. And if he can live by his teammate's words, the Magic will become winners once again.

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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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