“ I didn't see it coming, I can tell you that “, smiles Jamahl Mosley when talking about his player's performance. “ Honestly, me neither… », confirms Paolo Banchero who, after missing 34 games, made his return last night against the Bucks.
A truly remarkable return for a player on the sidelines for so long. Opposing Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Magic power forward scored 34 points (11/21 on shots including 5/8 from distance), 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 interceptions in 27 minutes!
“ I think I performed quite well. For the first few minutes, I felt a little weak in my legs and short of breath. As the match progressed, I found my breath again. I was able to slow down my game and at this point it felt natural again “, he says.
The interior, however, is nuanced compared to its physical feeling: “ I didn't feel fully myself. At times I wanted to dunk and my legs didn't give me the boost I needed. […] I acted like I was playing (the last few weeks), even though I knew it wasn't going to be the same. I knew I was going to play fewer minutes. »
His coach sees this performance as proof of the work displayed by the 22-year-old. “ That's what it is. The kid worked hard to come back. What he was able to do with composure, taking the right shots at the right time, defending, playing the favorable duels, shows you how strong-willed he is. It's not for nothing that he's a star », Judge Jamahl Mosley, evoking a “ quiet confidence » in his player.
The end of a frustrating period
This match, during which Paolo Banchero says he took “ lots of fun », thus ends a long stay in the infirmary linked to a tear in the right external oblique muscle. He had not been on the sidelines this much since his arrival in the Big League.
“ I don't think I was in a bad state of mind. But it's frustrating. You know, I've never missed this much time since I started playing basketball. Going so long without playing…I was so ready for the season and then I collapsed so early that sometimes you wonder 'why?' “, he said before the match.
The question no longer arises. The interior can resume its march forward within a Magic (22 victories – 18 defeats, 5th in the East) which has not faltered in his absence, and despite many other blows of fate (Franz Wagner , Moritz Wagner, Jalen Suggs…).
“ The team is convinced that everyone can raise their level of play. The guys work hard to be ready at all times. It was really encouraging for me to see us react like that. Guys getting that experience, winning in close games, against good teams, it can only make us better », he concludes.
| Paolo Banchero | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | ENT | 72 | 34 | 42.7 | 29.8 | 73.8 | 1.2 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 20.0 |
| 2023-24 | ENT | 80 | 35 | 45.5 | 33.9 | 72.5 | 1.0 | 5.9 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 22.6 |
| 2024-25 | ENT | 5 | 36 | 49.5 | 34.4 | 64.4 | 2.4 | 6.4 | 8.8 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 29.0 |
| Total | 157 | 35 | 44.4 | 32.2 | 72.7 | 1.1 | 5.8 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 21.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
