Tag: Paolo Banchero

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero will miss at least a month with oblique injury

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero will put his third NBA season on hold as he recovers from an oblique injury.

Former Duke basketball star [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag]’s breakout NBA season will be on hold for the foreseeable future.

According to a Thursday night report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, Banchero will miss at least the next four weeks after he suffered a torn right oblique.

“He will be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks and return to play will be based on how he responds to treatment,” Charania wrote.

Banchero led the Orlando Magic to the Eastern Conference Playoffs last season, averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists en route to his first NBA All-Star nomination.

Through the first five games of his third year, it seemed like the former No. 1 overall pick had taken another step forward toward the upper echelon of basketball stars. He averaged 29.0 points thanks to his first career 50-point game, and he was on track for career highs in rebounds (8.8), assists (5.6), field goal percentage (49.5%), and 3-point percentage (34.4%).

The Magic play 16 games in November, so Banchero would need to return as soon as possible to be eligible for any end-of-season awards. Players must appear in at least 65 contests to make the All-NBA or All-Defensive teams, meaning Banchero could only miss 17 games before forgoing his chances.

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero sets new NBA career-high with 50 points

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero scored 50 points against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, setting a new NBA career-high.

Former Duke superstar [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag], now a forward for the Orlando Magic, had a career night against the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

Banchero put together his first 50-point game en route to a 119-115 victory, adding 13 rebounds, nine assists, and two blocks in 40 minutes.

Banchero made it clear he had his eyes on a special night from the opening tip. He scored 37 points in the first half alone, and he made 16 of his 26 shots and 15 of his 22 free-throw attempts for the night.

“I’m tired as hell,” Banchero said after the game. “But it was a hell of a game.”

“Felt like I was in an open gym back at home just working on my game,” he continued. “Every shot felt like it was going in and it’s a good feeling when you’ve got a day like that.”

Paolo’s career performance came in the fourth game of his third NBA season. The former No. 1 overall pick earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2022-23 before earning his first All-Star nomination last year when he averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while leading Orlando to the playoffs.

It’s also worth noting, he’s doing this at just 21 years old.

Paolo Banchero opens his third NBA season with 33-point double-double

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero opened his third NBA season with 33 points and 11 rebounds against the Miami Heat.

In his second NBA season, [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag] increased his scoring average to 22.6 points per game, dished out 5.4 assists, and led the Orlando Magic to the playoffs in a dramatic seven-game series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

So how could the former Blue Devil possibly set the bar higher in year three? He answered that question pretty quickly on Wednesday night against the Miami Heat.

Banchero scored 33 points, making four of his eight 3-point attempts, and grabbed 11 rebounds. The StatMamba account on X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter) pointed out that, once you had in his three assists without a single turnover, he joined NBA legend Michael Jordan as the only players to finish with that line in a season opener.

The Magic won the game convincingly as well, a 116-97 triumph to position themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Banchero wasn’t the only former Duke basketball alum with a dominant first game. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum scored 37 points in a double-double of his own as the defending champions beat the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor name their all-time Duke basketball starting five

Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor, the two returning Duke basketball starters, named their all-time Blue Devils starting five on Wednesday.

When a basketball program has as many legends as the Duke Blue Devils, it’s incredibly fun to debate which five players would create the best starting lineup.

On Wednesday, returning starters Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor became the latest players to build their all-time Blue Devils lineup.

Proctor went first and named Kyrie Irving, JJ Redick, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, and Christian Laettner as his team.

Laettner, of course, helped Duke win consecutive national championships in 1991 and 1992, and he’s still the school’s all-time leading scorer in the NCAA Tournament. Irving, the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and returned to the Finals with the Dallas Mavericks this past season, where he lost to Tatum and the Boston Celtics.

Tatum, who made his third straight First Team All-NBA squad, also made program history as the first Duke men’s basketball alum to win multiple Olympic gold medals in Paris this summer.

Foster also included Irving and Williamson in his starting five, but he added Jason Williams and Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero to his lineup. The most recent of five No. 1 NBA draft picks in school history, Banchero led the Magic to the playoffs this past season.

Foster also earned some potential points with the Duke staff when he included head coach Jon Scheyer, who won a national championship with the Blue Devils as a player in 2010, on his team.

Top-ranked freshman Cooper Flagg answered the same question on The Brotherhood Podcast this summer, and he went with the same lineup that Proctor rolled out.

Former Duke basketball star signs multi-year NBA contract extension

The Orlando Magic and former Duke basketball star Wendell Carter Jr. agreed to a multi-year extension on Monday, per reports.

It seems like former Duke basketball star Wendell Carter Jr. won’t be leaving Orlando any time soon.

According to a Monday night report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Orlando Magic signed Carter to a three-year extension that keeps him with the franchise through the 2028-29 season. Charania reported that the new deal is worth $59 million.

Carter, who turned 25 years old earlier this year, will begin his seventh NBA season later this year. The Chicago Bulls drafted him with the seventh overall pick in 2018, but after two and a half years in the Windy City, he was traded to the Magic midway through the 2020-21 campaign.

He and fellow Duke basketball alum [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag] teamed to lead the Magic to the playoffs last season, the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2020. Carter averaged 11.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 25.6 minutes per game.

During his lone Duke basketball season in 2017-18, the 6-foot-10 center averaged 13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game.

Bleacher Report basketball writer makes NBA comparisons for Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel

During his 2025 NBA draft comparisons on Monday, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman said Cooper Flagg reminds him of a former Blue Devil.

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman released some pro comparisons for 2025 NBA draft prospects on Monday, and he compared top-ranked freshman [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] to former Duke basketball star [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag].

Wasserman wrote that, despite Flagg being a little more explosive than the Orlando Magic star, his offensive improvement gives him a similar skillset to Banchero.

“Like Banchero, the only NBA power forward last season to log at least six pick-and-roll ball-handling possessions per game, Flagg could also initiate offense, drive, play-make or pull up,” Wasserman wrote. “Both are excellent passers, and though shooting isn’t a strength, they’ve become capable shotmakers from the mid-range out to the arc.”

Flagg, the presumed No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft, wowed scouts at Olympic training camp with the U.S. Men’s Select Team. Even current NBA stars like Kevin Durant praised him, and writers think he and Banchero can both make their Olympic debut with the American team in 2028.

[autotag]Kon Knueppel[/autotag], a fan favorite throughout the offseason, also appeared in Wasserman’s list of comparisons. The Bleacher Report writer compared the five-star Wisconsin native to Saddiq Bey and Max Strus.

“His shooting versatility and instincts are still well suited for off-ball scoring,” Wasserman wrote. “Even as a complementary piece for Duke, Knueppel will put up points right away with the variety of ways he can get a bucket from different spots on the floor.”

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero stars in new SLAM KICKS magazine cover

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, was announced as the cover star of SLAM KICKS 27 on Friday.

Former Duke basketball player [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag] continued his march to NBA stardom on Friday when he was announced as the cover star of the newest SLAM KICKS magazine.

The magazine, a branch of the famous SLAM Magazine meant specifically for shoes, shows Banchero posing with a basketball under his arms and more than a half-dozen Jordan basketball shoes in front of him.

Banchero shared a quick post to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, about how he ordered copies of SLAM while he was in middle school. This is now his third time on the cover of a SLAM magazine.

“(Stuff) like this makes me trip out on life,” Banchero wrote.

After taking Duke to the Final Four as a freshman in 2022, he became the fifth Blue Devil taken with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Banchero won Rookie of the Year honors in 2022-23, and he led the Orlando Magic to the playoffs this past season.

Banchero averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in his sophomore season.

Duke basketball players most likely to make their Team USA debut at the 2028 Olympic Games

Jayson Tatum seems like a lock to make his third straight Olympic team in 2028. Here are the five Blue Devils most likely to join him.

Team USA men’s basketball always brings a Blue Devil.

There’s been at least one Duke basketball alum on four of the last five Olympic rosters for the Americans. Carlos Boozer won his gold medal in 2008, Kyrie Irving won his in 2016, and Jayson Tatum became the first Blue Devil with multiple gold medals after he played in both Tokyo and Paris. Even on the coaching staff and at an administrative level, legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski won three consecutive gold medals from 2008-16 as the U.S. head coach and Grant Hill served as the managing director for the American team for 2024.

That trend seems certain to continue in 2028. Tatum is still just 26 years old, and after he joined a rare list of players with a First Team All-NBA selection, an NBA title, and an Olympic gold medal in one year, he’d have to turn down Team USA to not make the roster in Los Angeles.

He assuredly won’t be the only Duke basketball alum in four years’ time, however. One NBA reporter said he expects two more Blue Devils will make the American team in 2028, and the program keeps churning out NBA talent.

Tatum and Irving will be threats to make any Olympic roster, but here are the five Blue Devils most likely to make their Olympic debuts for Team USA in 2028.

The closest thing to a lock on this list, fans were clamoring for Flagg to replace Kawhi Leonard on this year’s team despite the 17-year-old not even making his college debut yet. The top-ranked player in the Class of 2024, Flagg’s athleticism and defensive prowess turned heads at Olympic training camp when he played for the Select Team. The upcoming Blue Devil has repeatedly said he takes pride in his work on the defensive end, and the tape against Team USA backed that up. He’s taking steps forward as a three-level scorer, and analysts are already insisting he’s the next face of USA Basketball. At this point, if Flagg is upright and still playing in 2028, it’s hard to imagine him not making the Olympic team.

If Flagg has a 99% chance to make the American team in 2028, Banchero’s currently hovering around 98%. The No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft has taken a step forward every year he’s been in the national spotlight. He led Duke to the Final Four as a freshman, won NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2022-23, and led the Orlando Magic to the playoffs as the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference this past year. He averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in his second NBA campaign, and he already has Team USA experience at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Williamson’s chances to make the next wave of USA Basketball rosters entirely revolve around his health. The former Duke star is still only 24 years old, and he’s averaged 24.7 points per game throughout his NBA career thus far. Granted, he’s only played 184 games across five seasons. To earn genuine consideration for the squad, he’ll need to either become a more regular fixture on the court or become a 30-point-per-game guy when he is healthy. In terms of tape and talent, however, there’s no justification for Williamson to miss out on Los Angeles.

There’s a little bit of projection here, but it’s hard to not get excited after Lively averaged 8.8 points and 6.9 rebounds as a rookie. He finished his first postseason with four double-doubles, including two in the NBA Finals, and he seems like a future fixture in the Dallas point. A center on a team with Luka Doncic will certainly pick up more and more star power, and the American big men are only getting older. Joel Embiid is 30 and implied he might play for Cameroon in 2028, Anthony Davis is 31, and even Bam Adebayo is 27. If two of those three aren’t on Team USA in four years, the staff will be desperate for a 7-footer built to dominate the glass like Lively.

Speaking of projection, the 16th pick in the 2024 NBA draft hasn’t played a single game for the 76ers yet. However, like Lively, he fits a weakness on the American roster. Steph Curry and Devin Booker filled the role of perimeter shooters in France, and despite his stunning performance in the gold medal game, Curry will be 40 in 2028. He was the only player to average more than five 3-point attempts per game in 2024, and Booker and Anthony Edwards were the only players under the age of 34 to average more than three attempts per game. Enter Jared McCain, the 41% sharpshooter who could earn some traction if he blossoms in Philadelphia.

NBA reporter expects Paolo Banchero and Cooper Flagg to make Team USA for 2028 Olympics

NBA reporter Evan Sidery listed three young basketball stars expected to play for Team USA at the 2028 Olympics, including two Blue Devils.

[autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag] was the only Duke basketball alum on Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games, but NBA reporter Evan Sidery thinks the Americans will look a little more blue in four years.

Sidery listed three young Americans on Monday whom he expects to make the American roster at the 2028 Olympic Games, including former Duke basketball star [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag] and future Duke basketball star [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag].

Banchero nearly made the roster for France this summer, according to a Monday report from The Athletic’s Joe Vardon. Team USA managing director Grant Hill apparently sees his fellow Blue Devil as a future staple of Olympic rosters, and with national team experience at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the Orlando Magic star seems to be getting prepared for future Team USA work.

Flagg might be even more of a lock. The top-ranked player in the Class of 2024 already faced the current Olympic squad with the Select Team at training camp this summer and walked away with the spotlight, making back-to-back baskets during a scrimmage and impressing Kevin Durant.

Fellow Duke alum Zion Williamson will also be a serious candidate for a roster spot if his health cooperates.

Paolo Banchero nearly made Olympic roster for Team USA, The Athletic reports

According to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero nearly made the Team USA roster for the 2024 Olympic Games.

[autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag] became the first Duke basketball alum with two gold medals in France this summer, but he nearly wasn’t the only Blue Devil on the Team USA roster.

According to a Monday report from The Athletic’s Joe Vardon, former Duke star [autotag]Paolo Banchero[/autotag] nearly made the American roster for the 2024 Olympic Games. Vardon said Grant Hill, another Blue Devils legend and the Team USA managing director, wants Banchero on future Olympic teams after the Orlando Magic star was under “serious consideration” for a roster spot.

Banchero led the Blue Devils to the Final Four in 2021-22, Coach K’s final season in Durham, before he won NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2022-23. The last of Duke’s five No. 1 NBA draft picks, Banchero averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists during his second season.

He even proved himself on the playoff stage, taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games during the opening round and putting together three 30-point performances in the process.

Banchero does have Team USA experience as he made the 2023 FIBA World Cup roster. The Americans finished fourth in that tournament, and Banchero averaged 8.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 15.2 minutes per game.