For each rookie who arrives in the NBA, there are steps to take, moments to live. We obviously know the “rookie wall”, this moment when the fatigue of the calendar is felt and weighs down performance.
There is also the moment when the professional world imposes its level. The young talents then understand that they are no longer in the NCAA and that the best players in the world are now facing them. It’s the “welcome to the NBA” moment and every young first has its own.
For Paolo Bancheroit was November 28 against Brooklyn. “Playing against Kevin Durant was my ‘welcome to the NBA’ moment”he says at the JJ Redick Podcast.
The Magic rookie was impressed by the ease with which the Nets star chained the baskets.
“I defended a large part of the game against him and I couldn’t do anything”, he continues. “There are players who go to the free throw line a lot, who play with the referees and they score 14 free throw points. KD is serious business. He said nothing to the referees and he scored 45 points with only four free throws. He missed five shots in the game I believe. »
Paolo Banchero has a good memory since Kevin Durant will finish the game with 45 points at 19/24 in shooting and 4/4 in free throws. Brooklyn won that game with the Magic rookie at 24 points.
“Living this experience, having to defend against him, it was crazy”concludes the former Duke. “He’s the first player I’ve met in my life where I tell myself that I can’t do anything. Some guys put shots in front of me, but I can push them to miss a few. But there, it’s as if I didn’t exist in front of him. »
| Paolo Banchero | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2022-23 | ENT | 27 | 35 | 44.9 | 32.1 | 75.2 | 1.2 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 21.7 |
| Total | 27 | 35 | 44.9 | 32.1 | 75.2 | 1.2 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 21.7 | |
