NBA Basketball News
Paolo Banchero revealed the difference in his journey compared to Zion Williamson and Cooper Flagg as the top pick in the NBA Draft. Even though the three of them once held the same status, Banchero felt that the media attention on him was not as big as those two names.
Banchero, who was the first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, previously showed impressive performance with Duke. However, Banchero’s stardom entering the NBA pales in comparison to Williamson and Flagg, who have been gaining attention since high school.
In an interview on Dawg Talk, Banchero revealed the reasons behind the lack of media attention he received compared to Williamson and Flagg, fellow Duke University alumni. The Covid-19 pandemic that hit in 2020 was the main factor that clouded its popularity.
“I came during Covid and it had a big impact. I lost my last year of high school. Everything was online, schools were closed,” said Banchero.
The situation robbed Banchero of many opportunities to show off his skills to the public. Before the pandemic, he was known as one of the elite prospects in the United States.
“No one from my class really got the spotlight. It was just Chet and I. Covid clouded everything. We didn’t even get to the McDonald’s All-American Game,” he added.
In contrast to Banchero, Williamson has been the center of attention since high school. The 2019 NBA number one draft pick by the New Orleans Pelicans is known for his incredible athletic abilities, making him a hot topic of conversation before entering the NBA.
Meanwhile, Cooper Flagg was already in the spotlight before the Dallas Mavericks selected him No. 1. 1 NBA Draft 2025. Flagg appeared dominant and was recognized as one of the best prospects, even winning the 2026 Rookie of the Year award.
Despite not getting as much exposure as his two peers, Banchero proved his worth in the NBA. He started his career by winning Rookie of the Year 2023 and developing into a key player for the Magic. Last season, Banchero averaged 22.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He was also selected as an All-Star in his second season.
Even though he has not received much attention since he was young, this 23 year old player has still shown that he is worthy of being a star of his generation.
Article Tag: dallas mavericks, orlando magic, new orleans pelicans, paolo banchero
Published by Ligaolahraga.com at https://www.ligaolahraga.com/basket/banchero-dampak-covid-kurangi-sorotan-sejak-di-sma