Paolo Banchero Orlando Magic, No. 1 overall pick to NBA Stardom, overcoming injury, Coach K lessons, Michael Jordan, Family strength, playoff mentality & NBA Conference Finals

“It felt like food was taken off my plate…Came into this third year with all these goals, the 50 point game was a confirmation that the work I did was showing up…So to go down with an injury was like a hit to the stomach- it was a reality check, like I’m not Superman.” Paolo Banchero

In this episode of The Pivot Podcast, we sit down with Orlando Magic’s All-Star forward, Paolo Banchero, to discuss his journey from a standout freshman at Duke to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to battling adversity this past season dealing with serious injury and how he was able to lead his young team deep in first round of playoffs. 

Coming off a historic 50-point performance this pass season, Paolo opens up about his experiences in the NBA, his time under Coach K at Duke, and the challenges and triumphs of his rookie season. He shares insights into his mindset during high-pressure moments, the evolution of his game, and his aspirations for the future. He talks about the strength of his family grounding him, growing up in Seattle with basketball idols becoming his mentors and the call from Michael Jordan that changed his outlook in life. 

Paolo shares his takes on the current NBA playoff picture and how teams on the road win early games setting the tone for the upcoming conference series’ which is what led teams like NY and Indiana to the point they are at now. He gives us the one key that separates teams at this stage of the playoffs. 

Tap in now for our conversation with one of the league’s brightest young talents as he continues to make his mark in basketball, on and off the court.

Thank you to our friends and partners at KaChava for sponsoring this episode. Go to ⁠https://kachava.com⁠ and use code PIVOT for 15% off on their subscription for a limited time.

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