Paolo Panchero has become the favorite to win this year’s rookie race from the moment he finished first in last year’s draft.
And no one caught him.
Panchero was announced Tuesday night as the overwhelming winner of Rookie of the Season, after the Orlando forward led all first-year players in scoring and helped the Magic improve from 22 wins last season to a club with 34 wins. To play in a berth this season.
The former Duke star averaged 20 points per game. He had 15 games with at least 25 points and 40 games with at least 20 points, both of which are the most among rookies this season. He won the rookie forward four times, each of those ads just implying that he was ahead of the field.
He became the third player to win Rookie of the Year as a member of the Magic, joining Shaquille O’Neal in 1993 and Mike Miller—representing Banchero—in 2001. Banchero, on a TNT broadcast of the announcement, recalled a conversation he had with Miller on draft night.
“He looked at me and asked if I was going to be this year’s rookie,” said Panchero. “I confidently said yes. It was just a goal I had always dreamed of, and something I had been focused on since the second time she was recruited. I am glad I was able to do it.”
Banchero received 98 out of 100 first-place votes from a group of writers and broadcasters who cover the league. Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder was second and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz was third. Kessler had the two first place votes that Panchero did not receive.
Banchero is the first No. 1 draft pick to win the award in a season immediately after being drafted since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2016; Ben Simmons won the award in 2018, two years after taking first place.
Magic coach Jamal Mosley said one of his biggest takeaways from Panchero’s first season was maturity on the court and a willingness to play the right way.
“He had the ability to adapt in the game to whatever was asked of him to influence the win,” Mosley said.
Banchero freely acknowledges that it’s not a finished product, and Moseley said the team wants him to lock in certain areas over the course of the holiday season.
“I think there are many ways it can grow,” said Mosley. “I think a lot of times the rookies will come in and try to do everything. The biggest talk with him is focusing on one or two pieces for the summer, when he can improve in certain areas – because he’s going to work. I don’t think that’s going to be any question at all.”
In the final chapter of his freshman diary that ran this season for the Associated Press, Banshiro also outlined some ways he wants to improve over the coming months.
“I want to be more consistent, more dangerous than the 3-point range next season,” he said. “There have been stretches during this year where I’ve hit the ball really well. I just need to find consistency. I think broaden my range in year two and then get in the best shape I can – I think I’ve been in good shape this year, but I just want to To take it to another level. To get to where I want to be, everything has to be lifted a little bit. And I’m looking forward to that.”
Banchero has become the sixth person to receive one of the NBA’s top individual accolades so far this awards season, after it was revealed Memphis Jackson Jr. years. as Defensive Player of the Year, D’Aaron Fox in Sacramento As the inaugural winner of the Clutch Player Award, Kings coach Mike Brown As a unanimous selection for Coach of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon in Boston Sixth man of the year and Laurie Markkanen Utah As the most improved player in the league.
That leaves only the biggest single award of all time – MVP.
Nikola Jokic of Denver reached the final again, along with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid of Philadelphia. The NBA has not said when the MVP trophy will be handed out.
All-NBA, All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams are not disclosed.
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