What position does Paolo Banchero play?

Born on November 12, 2002, in Seattle, Washington, USA, Paolo is an Italian-American professional basketball player who plays as a power forward and small forward for the Orlando Magic in the NBA. The 6’10” is a versatile player known for his good rebounding and passing skills.

Banchero played both basketball and football at O’Dea high school. Banchero led O’Dea to the Class 3A state championship during his sophomore year and was named most valuable player. He went on to earn Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps National Junior of the Year honors and was named to the Jordan Brand Classic and McDonald’s All-American Game.

Banchero made his college debut for the Duke and earned his first Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Week honor on November 15. He went on to be named first-team All-ACC, Third Team All-American, and ACC Rookie of the Year for the Dukes before declaring himself for the 2022 NBA draft. His average of 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game as a freshman gave a boost to his selection chances. He became the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2022 NBA draft.

Paolo Banchero Jersey Number

Paolo Banchero plays as a small forward and power forward for the Orlando Magic and wears a No.5 jersey. Banchero previously committed to playing for Italy but an impressive year with the Orlando Magic changed his mind. He will be dawning the No.8 jersey for the USA in the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2023, which will be played in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia from August 25, 2023, to September 10, 2023.

Paolo is known for his outstanding scoring abilities. He was the third player to win Rookie of the Year for the Orlando Magic after legends like Mike Millers and Shaquille O’Neal, which helped him secure another 4-year contract with the Orlando Magic worth $50,158,769 in 2022. His annual average salary would be $12,539,692. Banchero’s base salary for 2023-2024 would be $11,608,080 with a cap hit and dead cap value of $11,608,080. He was also able to secure an endorsement with the Jordan brand.

Paolo was born to Mario Banchero and Rhonda Smith, who were both athletes in college. His father, Mario, was a football player for his college team, and his mother, Rhonda, was the all-time scoring leader when she left the college basketball team. She went on to play professional basketball in the American basketball league and overseas and was selected in the 2000 WNBA draft. She became a basketball coach at the Holy Names Academy post her retirement.