There is no doubt that
Paolo Banchero of the
Orlando Magic is one of the most exciting young players in the NBA right now. After scoring Rookie of the Year last season, Banchero has only gotten better in 2023-24 and is becoming one of a must-watch player.
His head coach, Jamahl Mosley, is consistently blown away by Banchero's abilities and compared him to two of the biggest basketball stars ever recently.
Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Mosley said:
“The thing about Paolo is he’s so dynamic. To put him in line with just one player is hard to do, because he has the passing ability of a LeBron, the scoring ability of a Melo, the basketball IQ he has is just something incredible.”
Comparing anyone to LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony is going to receive a lot of attention considering they are both so beloved and impactful. But Mosley knows a thing or two about Anthony because he actually worked with him years ago when he was an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets.
Banchero is truly someone special. This season, he is averaging 22.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, shooting 46.2% from the field and 36.2% from the three-point line. And his Magic are doing the best they have in years, currently the fourth team in the East with a 37-26 record.
For the first time in years, the Orlando Magic are on the verge of having a strong run in the playoffs. That is possible because of Banchero. But does that make him worthy of such praise?
