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Paolo Banchero is restless. That’s a common personality trait for players his age and ability and competitive streak, they tend to crave success. At the same time, he’s rooted in realism — there are levels to this process and, fortunately for Banchero and the Orlando Magic, no banana peels so far on the stairs they’re climbing together. He’s the necessary foundational piece for a team’s growth and ability to someday contend for championships. The quickness for a player his size (6-foot-10, 250), the strength combined with nimbleness, the ability to score multiple ways, see the floor and have an impact at the rim make him among the more unique players in the game. And he’ll turn just 23 a week from Wednesday, placing him squarely among the league’s next-gen on track for greatness. He has, so far, justified the reasons for being the No. 1 overall pick in 2022. In his three seasons (22.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists), he’s won Kia Rookie of the Year, been an All-Star and steered the Magic to a pair of playoff appearances (and averaged 29.4 against the Celtics in the first round last spring). Plus, he’s an ideal face for a franchise: personable, connects with fans, good with teammates. “I want to be the best,” he said. “I’m not there yet. I’m not where I want to be. But I plan to get there, to take this team there.” He was born and raised in Seattle, which has lately become an incubator for NBA talent. His mother, Rhonda, was a local high school legend and left the University of Washington as its all-time leading scorer. She played professionally for several seasons here and abroad. His father, Mario, owns and operates a butcher and meat processing company in Seattle, which has been in the family for three generations. Paolo, of course, will not follow his father’s footsteps, though. Basketball, along with a five-year, $239 million contract extension with the Magic, made that option improbable. Banchero and the Magic visit the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night (8 p.m. ET, NBC & Peacock). Banchero reflects on his Seattle upbringing, his ongoing NBA maturation, the hope for the Magic in 2025-26 and the best compliment and advice he ever received. NBA.com: Your hometown has been an unexpected source of talent for the NBA — several players currently on rosters and most doing well. How do you explain Seattle being a pipeline? Paolo Banchero: I always give credit to the guys who came before us. Growing up I remember seeing them often — Nate Robinson all the time, and I’m not talking about the gym. You could see them anywhere, in the store. Nate would come around to our AAU games … Jamal Crawford … Brandon Roy. Those guys would come back home to Seattle every summer after the season. Jason Terry was on TV beating LeBron and the Heat in the Finals. When you grow up as a kid, you say ‘Wow, these guys grew up in the same streets and gyms that I was in.’ So it’s the culture. The guy who coached me also coached those other guys. Everyone passes it down and pays it forward. I was lucky to be a part of that, to be mentored by the greats. Seattle is also small, the basketball community is small, the Black community is small, so everybody knows everybody. What’s strange is many of the current players from Seattle are too young to remember the SuperSonics, who moved to Oklahoma City in 2008, correct? I never went to a Sonics game. I was real young (6 years old) when they left. But Jamal is the Godfather because he has the Seattle Pro-Am in the summer. We all looked forward to the Pro-Am and it was free admission. You walk into the gym and see Kevin Durant, Paul George. To realize the number of legends he had in his Pro-Am, those guys were putting on a show. For kids like me, it gave us a chance to see NBA talent up close and personal. Who’s on your Seattle Mount Rushmore? Choose five instead of four. Jamal is the Godfather, so he’s there. Isaiah Thomas — if you want to talk about pound for pound, he’s the best, at 5-8, the level he was able to play, and me being around him, spent summers with him working out. He’s the best workout player I’ve ever been around. Brandon Roy — without the injuries, he was on a Hall of Fame trajectory. Then Zach LaVine. That fifth spot can go to different people. I’m not going to put myself. Let’s go with JT, Jason Terry. What lessons did you and the Magic take from your two playoff trips, losing to Cleveland in seven games two years ago and to the Celtics last spring? We learned that it takes a certain level of detail, a certain level of togetherness, a higher level, to win in the playoffs. Both of our losses came against experienced and good teams in Cleveland and Boston. We put up good fights, but we all felt the difference in how organized those guys were, how experienced they were. It’s some of those tough moments in those series when our youth showed, our inexperience showed. Obviously, you’re anticipating a different Magic team next time, correct? Now with us having two years under our belt of losing in the first round, I think guys have that experience and we know what it takes to win those games, whether it’s a key run that could change a game or a series. Also, winning on the road is a lot harder in the playoffs. This team added Desmond Bane to help with outside shooting. How has the transition gone so far, realizing it’s early in the process? Whenever you add a talented guy like Desmond, it takes a second for him to get comfortable and integrated and us being comfortable around him on the court. We all love what he’s like off the court. There’s just an adjustment on the court, as it would be for anyone. I don’t anticipate any issues. He’s going to be a huge part in what we do. The core of this team — you, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs — only played six games together last season because of injuries. Do you three have to get reacquainted, in a sense? For sure. Last year was a wash in that we didn’t have much time together. So this year we’re building that chemistry back up and get it rolling. This team lost four straight this season after winning on opening night. Was that cause for minor alarm? We learned it’s a very long season, so whether you start hot or cold in October and November, you still have to play to April and into the playoffs. A lot can happen and a lot can change. You have to take it one game at a time. What’s the biggest challenge facing this Magic team? It all starts on the defensive end. That’s how we’re going to win games. We have the players for that; a guy like Jalen (Suggs, who had five steals last weekend against Washington) puts pressure on teams. We just have to do it on a night-in, night-out basis. You have quality teammates, but do you feel you need to be the best player on the floor to give Orlando a chance to win most nights? Most definitely. I understand the pressure that comes with it. But I’ve always felt that way on all levels of basketball — high school to college to the pros. I have to be at my best and my teams are going to go as I go. Not saying that selfishly. But I have to be at my best. And that doesn’t necessarily mean the leading scorer. Scoring 30 points, maybe scoring only 20 points but grabbing 15 rebounds and nine or 10 assists. Whatever it is my team needs me to do, I’m willing to do it. The great players always pride themselves on introducing something new every season. What’s different about your game this season? For me, it’s a certain level of focus and effort that I need to have night in and out for me to be at my best. And I feel it rubs off on the rest of our team. So I have to be at a certain level for us to get to where we want to go. I really want to focus on making quicker decisions, taking the opportunities where they are, quicker attacks, becoming a more efficient player and shooter and just getting better at all aspects. My 3-point shot. Making plays on the defensive end. With my frame and athletic ability, I think I can make a lot of plays on that side of the ball. Guard the best forward, get blocks, steals, just being a defensive playmaker like I can be on the offensive end. Obviously, you’ve heard from some of the game’s best players in your short time in the NBA. What was the most meaningful of these interactions? My rookie year, I was at an event at All-Star Weekend, and I was with Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant. They were schooling me a little bit. They were like, ‘We see a lot of ourselves in you, but you have to take advantage of it.’ They were telling me I have the potential, but I have to stay in the gym, stay hungry, stay motivated and I’ll be able to get to that level of an all-time great, which is where I want to be. Hearing that from them, I was 20 and a rookie, from two guys I admired, loved their games and who they are, it was all I needed to hear. I don’t really look for outside validation, but hearing that from those two was big for me. What are your goals from a personal standpoint this season? What do you want to accomplish? I was eight years old last time we won a playoff series. The organization and fans are waiting for a breakthrough. I’d love to get all the individual stuff, but all that comes when you win. Us winning 55 games and being a top-two team in the East, that’s my goal, for us to get to the East Finals and NBA Finals and playing in June. That’s where I want to be and where I want this team to be. * * *
