A resounding victory, a predestined one. After being selected as the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Paolo Banchero blew away the competition, collecting 98 first-place votes out of 100, and winning the Rookie of the Year award at the end of his debut season in the NBA.
This is a prestigious result for the twenty-year-old Italian-American from Seattle with an Italian passport, the protagonist of a high-level regular season with the Orlando Magic jersey.
Paolo Banchero wins NBA 'rookie of the year'
The talent that the Italian basketball team dreams of wearing the blue jersey has helped the Magic go from 22 wins last season to 34 this year, even contending for a spot in the NBA playoffs. Averaging 20 points per game, he has had 15 games with at least 25 points, another record for a rookie this season.
These are the numbers of a true champion who joins a prestigious elite. The first Italian-American to win such a coveted title, Banchero is the third Magic player to win Rookie of the Year after Shaquille O'Neal in 1993 and Mike Miller – his current agent – in 2001.
Banchero , during the TNT broadcast where the official announcement took place, recalled a conversation he had with Miller on the night of the draft: “He looked at me and asked me if I would be rookie of the year,” Banchero said.
“I confidently said yes. It was just a goal I’ve always had, something I’ve had my eye on since I was hired. I’m glad I was able to do it.”
Banchero is the first No. 1 overall pick to win the award in his first season since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2016; Ben Simmons won the award in 2018, two years after taking the top spot.
The Italian-American finished ahead of Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished second, and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, who finished third, who also received the other two first-place votes. Banchero's title was therefore no surprise.
Many are speculating on a glorious future for 'Big Paolo', who the Italian basketball team , which has courted him in recent months, has not yet completely lost hope of seeing him in the national team, given the dual citizenship he obtained in February 2020.
Dino Meneghin: “Italy? I hope so, but I see it as tough…”
"All the right ingredients were there; she was the first choice, so the path was right, and it was an uphill battle because there were so many contenders. Being named MVP is a testament to her quality and potential, given her young age. So it gives me hope for her professional future, and I hope it's also for the Italian national team. Even though I think it's going to be tough . "
These were the words of Dino Meneghin , an icon of national basketball, the first Italian to be chosen by the NBA (in 1970 he was called in the 11th round, 182nd overall, by the Atlanta Hawks , but he never played in the US professional league).
"The federation has done everything possible, from Pozzecco to the federal president, there has been maximum availability and all windows and doors were wide open," added the former Italian basketball coach. " This is a decision that is entirely up to him, who must decide whether it is best for him to play for the US national team or the Italian one . "
