Paolo Banchero brings up ‘welcome to NBA moment’ as Kevin Durant took him to cleaners back in November

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Sampath Kumar

The No. 1pick in the 2022 NBA Draft Paolo Banchero is a true basketball fanatic, who has often confessed to be looking up to LeBron James since his childhood days. However, ROTY favorite knows just how to identify a true star. Even if he had difficulties in the past, Brooklyn Nets marquee Kevin Durant was present to make him aware of where he has come.

Paolo Banchero
Las Vegas, NV – JULY 9: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic shoots a free throw against the Sacramento Kings during the 2022 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2022 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

Paolo Banchero is averaging 21.7 points per game in his rookie season, making him the numero uno player at the moment to win the ROTY accolade. Not only in the young Orlando Magic sensation swift and agile, but his versatile scoring ability allows him to be a threat in the paint as well as from downtown. Something, which might’ve been said Kevin Durant in the past as well.

kd baby 16
MILWAUKEE, WI – JUNE 13: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during Round 2, Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on June 13 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).

On the same note, when Paolo got in a conversation with JJ Redick on his podcast ‘Old Man and the Three,’ the former reflected on how Durant handed him his first ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment whilst scoring jaw-dropping 45 points (which was KD’s season high) even to this date.

Paolo Banchero on how he as shocked to the core by Kevin Durant

“I guarded Kevin Durant for most of that game, and it was really just nothing you could do,” Banchero explained as mentioned by CBS Sports. “You know, some guys get to the [free-throw] line a bunch, or, you know, play with the refs and get calls, and that’s how they get 14 points from the line or whatever. But KD was straight business. Like, wasn’t saying nothing to the refs. I think he hit like four or five free throws, but he had 45. So most of those was buckets. I think he missed five shots that game.

“So just experiencing that, having to guard him, he was the first player I think I’ve guarded in my life where it’s like there’s nothing I could do,” Banchero continued. “You know, usually a guy can make some shots on me, but I can fluster him a little bit. I can get into him and make him miss here and there. But that was just like, he don’t even see me right now. Like I’m trying to cut him off, and he’s just out there like, ‘No, I’m still going to get to this spot. I’m still going to rise up.’ It was crazy.”

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