Paolo Banchero

Paolo Banchero

22-Year-Old ForwardF
Orlando Magic  NBA  
Orlando Magic
Out
Injury Oblique
Est. Return 1/5/2025
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Banchero improved in multiple areas during Year 2, notably increasing his scoring production by becoming more efficient from deep and elevating his playmaking. However, both areas still need work, as he shot only 33.9 percent from deep and committed 3.1 turnovers to 5.4 assists per game. Banchero was named to his first All-Star team last season and has the makings of a superstar if he continues on this trajectory, but the team around him will also have to improve if he wants to reach that level. Franz Wagner is a solid No. 2, especially if he can bounce back from a bad three-point shooting season in 2023-24. In the frontcourt, Jonathan Isaac and Wendell Carter have struggled to stay healthy, while Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony and Gary Harris have provided inconsistent production in the backcourt. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope replaced Markelle Fultz, and the sharpshooting veteran should be a great addition to a team that shot 30.9 percent from deep last season. If the pieces around Banchero can be more consistent, the 6-foot-10 point forward could flirt with an All-NBA nomination. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Current Season
From Preseason
#29
ADP
$Signed a two-year, $22.66 million contract with the Magic in July of 2022. Magic exercised $12.16 million team option for 2024-25 in October of 2023. Magic exercised $15.33 million team option for 2025-26 in October of 2024.
Personal Bio/PreCareer Summary

Banchero was born Nov. 12, 2002 in Seattle, Washington. His mother, Rhonda, played college basketball at Washington and left as the team's all-time leading scorer and went on to play professionally before becoming a basketball coach at Holy Names Academy in Seattle. His father, Mario, played college football at Washington. Banchero is of Italian descent on his father's side -- his mother is African American -- and he received Italian citizenship in February of 2020 and is eligible to play for the Italian national basketball team. Growing up, Banchero played basketball, football and participated in track. He ranked among the top 50 eighth-graders nationally in both football and basketball. As a freshman at O'Dea High School in Seattle, Banchero was the backup quarterback on the state championship team in addition to playing basketball. In hoops, he averaged 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds. As a sophomore, he led the school to the Class 3A state championship and was named most valuable player behind averages of 18.2 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists. As a junior, he was named Washington Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps Junior of the Year behind 22.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. He was also named to the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic rosters, plus was a five-star recruit. In August of 2020, he committed to play college ball at Duke. Starting all 39 of his appearances as a freshman, Banchero averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.0 minutes. He was named ACC Freshman of the Year and was Consensus All-American Second Team. In the 2022 NBA Draft, he was selected No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic.

Participates in drills Friday
FOrlando Magic
Oblique
December 13, 2024
Coach Jamahl Mosley said Friday that Banchero (oblique) did some conditioning and ball handling drills during Friday's practice, Philip Rossman-Reich of OrlandoMagicDaily.com reports.
ANALYSIS
While Banchero's activity in practice is a positive sign of his progression through a torn right oblique, he'll likely remain sidelined for an extended period as he has yet to move on to contact drills. The star forward hasn't played since sustaining the injury Oct. 30, and a timeline for his return to game action is unclear. With Banchero and Franz Wagner (oblique) sidelined, Moritz Wagner, Jett Howard and Tristan da Silva should continue seeing an uptick in playing time.
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Stat Review
How does Paolo Banchero compare to other players?
This section compares his stats with all players from the previous three seasons (minimum 200 minutes played)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
  • True Shooting %
    An advanced statistic that measures a player's efficiency at shooting the ball that takes field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and three point percentage into account.
  • Effective Field Goal %
    A statistic that adjusts field goal percentage to account for the fact that three-point field goals count for three points while field goals only count for two points.
  • 3-Point Attempt Rate
    Percentage of field goal attempts from three point range.
  • Free Throw Rate
    Number of free throw attempts per field goal attempt.
  • Offensive Rebound %
    An estimate of the percentage of available offensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
  • Defensive Rebound %
    An estimate of the percentage of available defensive rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
  • Total Rebound %
    An estimate of the percentage of available rebounds a player grabbed while they were on the floor.
  • Assist %
    An estimate of the percentage of teammate field goals a player assisted while they were on the floor.
  • Steal %
    An estimate of the percentage of opponent possessions that end with a steal by the player while they were on the floor.
  • Block %
    An estimate of the percentage of opponent two-point field goal attempts blocked by the player while they were on the floor.
  • Turnover %
    An estimate of turnovers committed per 100 plays.
  • Usage %
    An estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while they were on the floor.
  • Fantasy Points Per Game
    NBA Fantasy Points Per Game.
  • Fantasy Points Per Minute
    NBA Fantasy Points Per Minute.
True Shooting %
59.0%
 
Effective Field Goal %
55.2%
 
3-Point Attempt Rate
33.0%
 
Free Throw Rate
60.8%
 
Offensive Rebound %
7.4%
 
Defensive Rebound %
21.3%
 
Total Rebound %
14.1%
 
Assist %
28.6%
 
Steal %
0.7%
 
Block %
2.1%
 
Turnover %
6.7%
 
Usage %
31.9%
 
Fantasy Points Per Game
50.0
 
Fantasy Points Per Minute
1.4
 
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Our historical fantasy ratings are standard scores calculated using 8-Category settings with 12 teams and 13 players per team.
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Magic Depth Chart
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Magic Rotation: Minutes Breakdown
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Average Fantasy Points
Average Fantasy Points are determined when Paolo Banchero was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
The top pick from the 2022 draft took down Rookie of the Year honors, and it wasn't really close. Despite some midseason struggles, Banchero averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. Those are remarkable averages from a rookie, but that looks like his floor going forward. The versatile forward shot just 43 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range, and we have to anticipate those averages rising in his sophomore season. It was also encouraging to see the Rookie of the Year post a 27.5 percent usage rate because he could get above 30 percent this season. Orlando is one of the worst rosters in the NBA, and Banchero can run the show with how much talent he possesses. A spike in assists should be on the horizon, along with his shooting averages, especially since we saw Paolo provide 4.6 assists across the final month of last year.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 Draft was so good in Las Vegas that the Magic opted to shut him down after seeing what they needed to see in just two Summer League games. For the most part, Banchero arrived as advertised. He's a jumbo-sized forward who handles the ball like a guard and is more than happy to facilitate in the halfcourt. Banchero's field goal and three-point percentages will likely go through major swings throughout the season. Still, he projects to have a well-rounded stat profile buoyed by above-average passing for his size and position. Rebounding and scoring shouldn't be a concern, though it remains to be seen how much of an impact Banchero will make at the defensive end. He's also a below-average free throw shooter (72.9% FT as a freshman at Duke), which may be a concern if he can get to the line anywhere close to the rate he did in Vegas (20 FTA in 60 total minutes). There may also be some concern about where Banchero fits in on a Magic roster that includes Franz Wagner and 2021 No. 5 pick Jalen Suggs, as well as other recent first-rounders in Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke. Orlando indeed has more talent than most teams that historically pick No. 1 overall, but Banchero is easily the highest-upside piece of that group, so fantasy managers should not be overly concerned about the team failing to prioritize his development as a future No. 1 option.
More Fantasy News
Tears oblique, out multiple weeks
FOrlando Magic
Oblique
October 31, 2024
Banchero was diagnosed Thursday with a torn right oblique and will be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Iffy against Cleveland
FOrlando Magic
Abdomen
October 31, 2024
Banchero is listed as questionable for Friday's game versus the Cavaliers due to a right abdominal strain, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Pours in 31 in Chicago
FOrlando Magic
October 30, 2024
Banchero logged 31 points (12-22 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 5-7 FT), seven rebounds and four assists over 37 minutes during Wednesday's 102-99 loss to the Bulls.
ANALYSIS
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Career-high 50 points vs. Indiana
FOrlando Magic
October 28, 2024
Banchero registered 50 points (16-26 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 15-22 FT), 13 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and one steal over 40 minutes during Monday's 119-115 victory over the Pacers.
ANALYSIS
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Explodes for 33 points in opener
FOrlando Magic
October 23, 2024
Banchero notched 33 points (12-24 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 5-6 FT), 11 rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal across 31 minutes during Wednesday's 116-97 victory over the Heat.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Hoping to return by Christmas
FOrlando Magic
November 20, 2024
Banchero isn't expected to be re-evaluated until the end of November at the earliest as he recovers from an oblique injury, but the third-year star thinks he can be back in the Magic lineup before Christmas, Marc J. Spears of ESPN.com reports. "This isn't from the medical team or anything, but the way I feel and I've been feeling, I think before Christmas," Banchero said Monday. "Maybe that's a week before, a couple days before. I think I can get back before Christmas."
ANALYSIS
That would be a very optimistic timeline after the 22-year-old forward suffered a torn right oblique Oct. 30 against the Bulls. Banchero indicated he would defer to Orlando's medical staff if they don't clear him before the holidays. He appeared to be on track for a career year prior to the injury, averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.2 threes in five contests.
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