Magic star Banchero named NBA Rookie of the Year

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero has been named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.

Banchero was the No. 1 overall pick out of Duke in the 2022 NBA Draft and became just the sixth player in the last 50 years to average 20+ points, 6+ rebounds and 3+ assists per game. He joins Luka Doncic, Blake Griffin, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Walter Davis on that exclusive list.

He earned 98 of the 100 first-place votes in a landslide win.

Banchero was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month four straight months to end the season and joins Mike Miller (2001) and Shaquille O’Neal (1993) as the only three Magic players to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

Banchero joins Shaquille O’Neal as the only players in franchise history to be named the league’s Rookie of the Month in four consecutive months. O’Neal did it four straight times from November 1992-February 1993.

He started in 72 games this season with Orlando, averaging a team-high 20.0 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game and 3.7 assists per game.

Banchero led all NBA rookies in scoring and minutes played, while also ranking among leaders in rebounding (5th), assists (3rd), free throw percentage (7th), steals (4th) and blocked shots (7th). He scored 20+ points 40 times and 30+ points six times this season, the most by any NBA rookie.

He scored 20 points forty times this season, matching the same number LeBron James had his rookie season.

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