"It was so weird" - Paolo Banchero candidly reflects on being mistaken for Patrick Mahomes by F1 announcer
On Monday, Paolo Banchero dropped the first 50-point game of the season, helping the Orlando Magic secure a 119-115 victory over the Indiana Pacers. While he's now considered one of the top young stars in the NBA, it wasn't that long ago that F1 broadcaster Martin Brundle mistakenly thought that Banchero was Patrick Mahomes.
During an F1 race in May 2022, a camera crew chased after Banchero, with Brundle calling out for Patrick. When the crew caught up with him, Brundle began asking him about his experience at the event while under the impression that he was speaking to Patrick Mahomes.
Unaware of the mix-up, Banchero answered the question, praising the event, when suddenly Brundle revealed that Banchero wasn't actually Mahomes. During an appearance on Wednesday's edition of "Pardon My Take," Banchero recalled the incident:
"It was weird. It's so weird, man," Banchero said. [2:08:00 mark] "Like it was crazy, because I'm on the track right, and that time, I'm not even in the NBA yet, ... and I just kept hearing 'Patrick, Patrick?' I'm like, 'Man, I wonder who Patrick is.' ... and someone hits me on the back."
"And I'm like, 'What? And I look, and it's this camera and Martin Brundle, and the camera's in my face. ... And so I'm not even realizing that this is like a world broadcasted interview. ... I've never been to F1 so I'm lost ... Right after that my phone just started going nuts."
"I was in the zone," - Paolo Banchero opens up on 50 point game
On Oct. 23 in the Magic's season opener against the Miami Heat, Paolo Banchero recorded a double-double with 33 points and 11 rebounds. Then, on Monday, he extended the Magic improve their regular season record to 3-1 when he flirted with a triple-double during a 50-point outing in the game against the Pacers, where he also tallied 13 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and a steal.
During his "Pardon My Take" appearance, Banchero spoke about the game, saying that he was simply in the zone.
"Yeah, I was in the zone, man," Paolo Banchero said. "It was just one of those games where, you make your first couple shots and you just get lost in it and then you just keep going. You're not even worried about how many points you are scoring."
"You just, you don't want to stop. It was fun, man. I've had a couple big games in the league, and playoffs, whatnot, but, that was probably definitely the standalone game where it just. It was just like an avalanche, like, kept going."
Paolo Banchero and the Magic will be back in action on Wednesday when they face the Chicago Bulls on the road.