Orlando Magic centerpiece and Duke basketball talent Paolo Banchero looks ready to soar this season.
The Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs, who squared off in preseason action on Wednesday night, boast a combined three Duke basketball talents: the Magic's Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. plus the Spurs' Tre Jones. But Banchero was the only NBA Blue Devil to log any minutes in their tune-up meeting, a 107-97 Spurs win in San Antonio.
And the following scoring move, featuring a brisk spin through two San Antonio defenders and emphatic finish at the rim, provided clear evidence that the 21-year-old is as fleet-footed and confident as ever with his 6-foot-10, 250-pound frame:Last season, the Magic's former No. 1 overall draft pick averaged 21.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 44.2 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from three, and 73.1 percent at the charity stripe.
Orlando, now 0-2 in the preseason, next faces the Philadelphia 76ers and their 2023-24 Duke basketball one-and-done, rookie Jared McCain, at home on Oct. 18.Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs.
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