When Paolo Banchero was preparing to join the Orlando Magic, all the No. 1 pick heard about was the “rookie wall” that always seems to creep in around the midseason point of the season.
“That is all I heard,” Banchero told Rookie Wire. “Anyone who gave me advice was saying: ‘Be ready for the rookie wall. You’re going to hit the wall.’ You just have to prepare for it.”
Before any of that could manifest itself, Banchero came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, and was in some elite company to start off the season in Orlando.
He became just the 10th player ever to record at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a debut game on Oct. 19, and the first since LeBron James in 2003. He kept that going and eventually scored at least 20 points in 15 of his first 20 games. He is one of only 12 rookies to accomplish that feat.
The production has now continued past the halfway point of the season.
Banchero is averaging 20.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and one steal on 43.9% shooting from the field in 41 games. He leads the rookie class in scoring and is one of two first-year players with multiple 30-point games (4). He also has the most 20-point games (26) among rookies and has scored in double figures in all but two games.
The mere notion that Banchero could potentially hit the rookie wall was quickly shot down by teammates Wendell Carter Jr. and Gary Harris. The start by Banchero is something Harris has never seen.
He is not no normal rookie. He ain’t normal at all. He is hungry. He wants to be great. He is willing to learn. He wants to be coached. He is taking it in all on the fly and he is 20 years old so this is a lot for him. In halfway through the season, I’ve never seen anybody come into the league like he has come into the league with just how locked in, focused and how mature he is. He already is special. He is special.
Banchero believes he may have hit that low point recently, though.
“I feel like I kind of hit in a way and got past it,” Banchero said. “I think it was right before the new year that I kind of felt my body and my mind get tired. I had rough games and rough shooting nights and wasn’t feeling explosive.”
The point that Banchero is referring to came during the last three games in December. He finished with a season-low four points versus the Lakers on Dec. 27. He responded with a 15-point outing the next night in Detroit, and 21 points two nights later against Washington. Though he scored…
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