Magic’s Paolo Banchero first since LeBron with 25-5-5 in debut

DETROIT — Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero collected 27 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in his NBA debut on Wednesday evening, a 113-109 loss to the Detroit Pistons, making him the primary rookie with 25-5-5 in his debut since LeBron James in 2003.

“It means quite a bit, I assume,” Banchero stated after the sport. “Clearly, would have favored to win, however I simply wished to play arduous, play for the group and that occurred, so it is a blessing.”

Banchero, the No. 1 decide within the 2022 NBA draft, made an influence on this contest straight away. He scored Orlando’s first 4 factors of the sport and completed the primary quarter 3-for-3 on discipline targets for seven factors. He was even higher within the fourth quarter as Orlando tried to mount a comeback, going 5-for-8 for 13 factors, together with a ferocious one-handed dunk over Pistons guard Cory Joseph, who tried to attract a cost.

Total, Banchero scored essentially the most factors by a Magic participant of their first profession recreation in group historical past, outscoring former gamers comparable to Penny Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard — all of whom scored 12 factors of their first profession recreation.

“It is loopy,” Banchero stated. “I felt like I left a variety of factors on the board.”

“Credit score to my teammates for locating me. It is all the time good to see the ball get in that early, get straightforward buckets across the rim. That is how I attempt to play, inside out. Attempt to get straightforward stuff across the basket and increase out and do extra stuff all through the sport.”

Earlier than boarding the flight from Orlando to Detroit, Banchero stated he tried to replicate within the second earlier than his first official NBA recreation to not permit himself to get caught up throughout Wednesday’s motion. This matchup between the Pistons and Magic featured a group of former prime draft picks, together with Pistons guards Cade Cunningham, the 2021 No. 1 decide, who completed with 18 factors and 10 assists, and Jaden Ivey, the 2022 No. 5 decide, who scored 19 factors with 4 assists and three steals in his debut.

Orlando had three gamers age 21 or youthful — Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner — rating 20 factors, the primary group in NBA historical past to take action in a season opener.

“We’re each tremendous younger, we’re each looking for our strategy to the highest of the league,” Cunningham stated concerning the Pistons and Magic. “This was a giant recreation for us to set the tone so far as that matchup. We will be seeing them quite a bit for years to come back.”

Nevertheless, Banchero, 19, was the sport’s main scorer, scoring essentially the most factors by a No. 1 general decide since Allen Iverson scored 30 factors in his debut in 1996.

“He dealt with himself very effectively,” Suggs stated. “He received to his spots. He ran in transition. He was bodily. He boarded. He made the proper play when it was there. Paolo did a unbelievable job tonight. We will proceed to experience with him; we’ll proceed to develop and moments like this are vital for us. We received to be on this to develop and he confirmed us quite a bit tonight.”