LeBron James believes Orlando Magic have got a "great kid" in Paolo Banchero
LA Lakers superstar LeBron James gave props to Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero after the two faced off against each other on Tuesday. With Banchero being one of the most impressive young players this season, James had to take note of the youngster's vast skillset.
The Orlando Magic landed a potential superstar in the draft when they picked Paolo Banchero this year. At 6'10" tall, Banchero is the prototypical modern day point forward. However, this is only a small part of the whole package.
Banchero has been huge for the Magic early in the season. As a vital part of their frontcourt trio alongside Franz Wagner, the Magic have seen Banchero emerge as the focal point of their offense as a scorer and playmaker.
At his size, Banchero has displayed tremendous athleticism. However, it is his shot-creation and shot-selection abilities that truly garner a lot of attention.
Paolo Banchero had mentioned earlier that he developed his game after seeing the likes of LeBron James in action. This comes through in his style of play as he faces up to defenders with confidence in the midpost.
With the ability to score from three levels, Banchero already finds himself in the ROTY discussion. However, his abilities have also caught the eye of LA Lakers superstar LeBron James.
Following the LA Lakers' 129-110 win over the Magic, James offered props to Banchero for his skill. He said:
"He's been exceptional...a 3 level scorer so far in this league, in the paint, in the midrange and shooting the ball from the outside . ... They got a really good one. He's a great kid too."
LeBron on Paolo Banchero: "He's been exceptional...a 3 level scorer so far in this league, in the paint, in the midrange and shooting the ball from the outside . ... They got a really good one. He's a great kid too."
With some high praise from some of the best to ever do so, Banchero finds himself in a solid position to succeed in Orlando. Likely to become the face of the franchise moving forward, the Magic will also look to invest their energy into grooming the youngster into a superstar.
Read: LeBron James' LA Lakers playing against Paolo Banchero's Orlando Magic has the monster rookie in dreamland
Paolo Banchero goes head-to-head with LeBron James
NBA action on Tuesday night saw an intriguing matchup between the LA Lakers and the Orlando Magic in Orlando. While the Lakers were playing without Anthony Davis, Purple and Gold still featured their star duo of LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.
Meanwhile, the Magic continued to display their intriguing four-big lineup with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner leading the fray.
The potential matchup between James and Banchero posed as an intriguing one, with the star rookie facing off against the aging superstar. Unfortunately, the result was anything but satisfying.
The game started with Lakers guard Patrick Beverley guarding Banchero and Franz Wagner at LeBron. While Banchero was quick to score off a driving layup early in the first, James responded quickly with a baseline jumper over Wagner.
A few plays down the stretch, the switch saw Banchero defend James on the perimeter. After a subtle pump fake, LeBron took Banchero off the ground. This gave the "King" an opportunity to drive in and set up Thomas Bryant for a nice alley-oop.
The play set the template for the matchup between James and Banchero. Needless to say, it is reflected in the stats as well.
LeBron ended the night with a definitive 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Meanwhile, Banchero, who only played 22 minutes, struggled from the field and notched only four points on the night.
As a learning experience for the rookie, the Magic will hope to see their youngster bounce back from the game soon.
Read: Skip Bayless highlights Orlando Magic bench taunting LeBron James: “Did anybody ever dare to taunt Jordan?”