He will be the most watched player this afternoon. Italian-American, Paolo Banchero will live its family “Clasico” since the United States face Italy in the quarter-finals. Face to face, his mother’s country against his father’s country, and after many twists and turns, the strong winger from Orlando chose to wear the American jersey. Like her mom.
“I’m so proud of him, and it’s a way of closing the loop” explain Rhonda Smith Banchero.“I’m sure there are other wonderful women who have gone through the same experience. It’s great to see his son wear the United States jersey knowing how much it means and what it takes to make it happen. »
A playful mom and coach
For the son, who nevertheless has an Italian first and last name, it’s very simple: “I wanted to be like her, and experience the success she had. From an early age, this motivated me. »
Now 50 years old, Smith-Banchero actually wore the American jersey, and after a great college career at the University of Washington, she played several years in the WNBA. Then, she became an assistant in an academy near Seattle, and it was under her orders that Paolo performed his first dribbles.
“We trained in the evening”recalls Smith-Banchero. “I was going to pick up Paolo at that time and I was taking him to training because that’s where I was going, so that’s where he was going to go… He was on the side shooting. I was an assistant, and while the coach gave instructions to the girls and I gave some instructions to Paolo, then I came back. My only rule was that he couldn’t practice shooting haphazardly. I’ve always said that if you were going to shoot, you had to do it right. »
“I was in the gym with her every day, learning to love basketball”
Already tall and strong at a very young age, Banchero was then trained as a fullback. His mother taught him very early to dribble and shoot from afar. He has not forgotten his moments spent after school.
“I was in the gym with her every day, learning to love basketball” he remembers. “She’s my most important critic, but also my number 1 support. She never let me slack off or take days off, she always pushed me to give my best. After school, I went to his training, I spent the whole evening there. Sometimes I didn’t have sports clothes with me, but I still trained in my school clothes, and I sweated in them”.
Fifteen years later, here he is on the biggest stage in the world against his father’s compatriots for a match like no other, and perhaps unique in his career.
