Paolo Banchero Orlando Magic, NBA’s No 1 pick rise to stardom, injury, conference finals | The Pivot

Paolo Banchero Orlando Magic, NBA’s No 1 pick rise to stardom, injury, conference finals | The Pivot

What’s up? I got more work to do. Respect. See, I’m tiptoeing. Say what’s up. You think I got him though in the post? What you think the post? No. Maybe post. You haven’t had him since he was in the seventh grade. Hold up. I hear it. My people feeling way up on a mission. Got me up knowing me. I got the key on the vision. I can trust trust. Limitless people. Welcome. We have Paulo Vanero. We have my boy Freddy T. I’m your boy RC Channing. Did not make it today. But Pivot fans, thank you so much for pivoting with us. I couldn’t help but notice, you know, before the show started, you had to spit your gum out. Yeah. Uh so somebody had to come give it to you. But you mentioned about what Coach K said, though. You said Coach K said it’s good to have strong women around you, starting with, you know, your mother and your grandmother. And now also with management, what has that foundation been for you and how have you learned from the strong women in your life? Yeah, I would say the foundation really been there since I was born. Really, you know, I got two two great grandmothers who, you know, took care of me, you know, from the from time I was born up till now. Um obviously my mom you know she has a sister, my auntie and so they kind of taught me you know everything that I really needed to know. You know they taught me a lot of lessons um both in sports and in life. They expected a lot out of me but they also it was unwavering support you know throughout the course of my my journey. So I think you know I felt that growing up always you know their support and also their expectations their critiques you know they expected a lot when I didn’t meet those expectations you know they let me know. Yeah. So, it always was like, you know, I wasn’t just playing for myself, I was playing for them, trying to, you know, you know, make them happy, make them proud. Going to play for Coach K, you know, seeing, you know, he has a very, you know, strong, you know, uh, support system, you know, with his wife, he has his, his daughters, um, and they got his grandkids, you know, and he, you know, always preaches the importance of family and, uh, and the importance of having strong women as well. And then now me having Nicole as my manager, somebody I I look to as like big sister, you know, I never had, you know, someone who just keeps me on point. We all know as men, I feel like, you know, sometimes you get stubborn, you get stuck in your ways a little bit, and I think having that uh, you know, that female women perspective, you know, it gives you a different outlook and it really does help you, you know, make good decisions and make the right choices. Yeah, 100%. We see things a certain way and there is a foundation that someone like a Nicole one who’s versed in this business, who’s educated in this business, but also has an understanding of a different perspective. It allows you to now view things in that way, take that advice. And I think it’s always cool to have had a foundation to be able to recognize that before you even get an opportunity to work with her. Yeah. No, that’s great perspective. But, you know, most times on the outside looking in, people will see the allstar when they see you. But coming up in a sports family, I want to ask how did that like shape you? Was it pressure, just motivation, or was it just like family vibes? A little bit of everything. I think, you know, my family having two athletes as parents, uh, everything was competitive. Mhm. You know, just naturally, you know, just that was the natural atmosphere was competitive. Um, and so, you know, from the time I started out playing little league football, um, basketball, you know, they was always pushing me to be be better. You know, I’d have a good game, score a couple touchdowns, and, you know, pops would be telling me what I could have done better. You know, what play I wasn’t, you know, I didn’t carry out my fake on this play right here, you know. So, they never let me feel like I I made it or I was good enough or I had done enough. And so, I think for me, it was always motivating, you know. I was always trying to be better. My dad, he was always like, you know, when we go to like camps or, you know, I would do I play football, you know, I go to out of state, play football, do camps and stuff. And, you know, I was never the number one ranked player. So, he would always tell me like, you know, you got to look at these guys that’s above you and just slowly check them off the list. You know, every year, every summer, you know, just, you know, look back at those rankings or look back at, you know, whatever that list was and just see who you’ve passed and see who you still have to pass. And so I think just having that mentality always in the back of my head like there’s always somebody I got to chase after. That was why going number one in the draft like was such a huge accomplishment because I was I think that was like the first time in my life where I was like you know I I did it. I got to the top. I was I was number one finally, right? I’ve been chasing everybody it seemed like my whole life. So it was uh I think just them creating that type of competitiveness in me. You mentioned football. Yeah. And we were just at the the Miami Grand Prix not too long ago and I know in the inaugural season you did an interview a lot of people the guy mistakenly identified you as Patrick Mahome. Could you imagine yourself being 610 playing quarterback? We just saw an article this kid 610 basketball player just transfer. He just went over to play receiver. Could you you think you can get it done at the QB position? Man, it was tough. Like I remember my freshman year of high school, which is the only year I played football in high school. I was on varsity and I was like 67 at the time and I just I felt and I played football my whole life and I love football and but I just felt so out of place like it’s that was the first time I think where it kind of felt unnatural. Yeah. And first time in my life where football felt unnatural and so I think that was when I was like you know what I think I think I’m gonna have to just go full-time basketball. But, you know, I think it’s good though, like, you know, if you could see, you know, taller guys starting to play football, like, you know, maybe they can make it work. You know, I think at the quarterback position, you could. But I think for me, I just was I was good enough in basketball to where I knew I could I could stay stay number one to be where you are now. You know, you talked about chasing. A lot of people don’t understand how rich the basketball culture is in Seattle. Yeah. Right. We had Jamal Crawford on the show and he mentioned you when he was here as well. What was it like being able to be in some of those runs and see some of those dudes that were doing it at the highest level to not only kind of inspire you that you can do it, but also show you what you needed to work on to get there. Yeah. No, I can’t I can’t say enough about that. Honestly, I could sit here and talk to you for two hours just about my my experience of, you know, talking to those guys as a as a teenager and how much they helped me. I think like you said first part was was seeing that it was possible that it could be done. I think being from Seattle you top left of the country you know you don’t get the most attention and whatnot but I think for me growing up seeing Jamal um Jason Terry Isaiah Thomas you know Rodney Stucky like the list goes on and on. Aaron Brooks you know I went to his camps growing up. like seeing those guys in the NBA, you know, playing on the biggest stage and and knowing where those guys came from, you know, you know, what high schools they went to, what what club teams they grew up playing for. You know, I’m playing for the same coaches that coach them. And so I think for me it just made it seem a lot less um you know, lofty, you know, as a goal. like I I knew I could get there if I put in the work because I’m seeing these guys that, you know, when in the summertime I see them come back to Seattle and they’re just regular dudes, but then you see them, you know, Jamal playing for the Showtime Clippers on TV every night, like, you know, it just it just made the goals feel that much more real. And then once I got to like that age of of being in high school when it was time for me to kind of start playing against those guys and matching up, you know, I give a lot of credit to to Jamal just for taking me under his wing and and like you said, not only just, you know, inviting me to the runs, but like really involving me and really like trying to make me be better and telling me like, you know, what’s what next steps I have to take in my game, you know, to play at that level. And so I think early in those runs, I was like the big man, right? I was just rebounding, doing the, you know, the dirty work around the rim. Like I’m 15, 16 years old, big kid, right? Playing against, you know, Kyrie, young Zack Lavine, just all these guys. And so I was just doing whatever I could to be on the court, stay on the court. And so I think the next like two years after that, you know, I just remember coming back and, you know, Jamal telling me like, “No, you playing point guard today.” Yeah. Like you bringing the ball up every time. Like I want you to initiate every action in this run today. Like I want you to be the point guard. And me, I never really done that. And so it showed me like now okay this is what you got to do you know in the NBA you know this is what the star players do right that’s what he’s telling me like you know the the star players that you aspire to be and that you you know you want to be like this is what they’re doing this is how they’re playing so you know you might as well start working on it right now and I remember one thing he always told me like always told me from the time I was 15 was like you know it’s it’s going to get here a lot quicker than you think like I know it feels like it’s forever you know till you’re till you’re there but I’m telling you it’s going to happen so fast you’re going to look up and you’re going be, you know, in the NBA and it happened exactly like that. So, I give him a lot of credit. That’s how you said pound for pound. Seattle the toughest, though. Yeah, I stand on that for sure. I mean, it’s a list. Like, I I I named like five, six names, but I could name there’s 20 more that I ain’t named. All right. So, if it’s Seattle, what’s the other region, cities, states that are up there with Seattle and putting our hoop? Because see, we football guys, so everything’s the South, you know, Florida, uh, Texas, uh, Louisiana. Then you throw California in there because it’s big. What are some of those other regions that you think put out players like Seattle? I mean, you definitely throw California in there. But California is huge, right? Uh Texas has some good players. I think um North Carolina going to Duke, you know, that they call that the hoop state out there. Um a lot of rich basketball tradition in North Carolina. But man, I think Seattle, like I said, pound-for-pound like we we’re a smaller state, a smaller, you know, demographic. But if you was to do like by population of hoopers, like we got a lot less people and a lot more hoopers. And so it’s just something in the water there, man. Like it’s such a rich rich culture. You know, my mom was a high school coach when I was growing up. So, you know, all the players that was coming up during that time, I got to see at an early at an early age, you know, when they was in high school and just how they carried themselves, you know, how they moved. And so as a kid, like I was just a I was a sponge, you know, I was just sitting there watching, but really I’m just filing it all in my head, you know, taking notes, you know, seeing, you know, how dudes carry themselves, how they warm up, you know, how they play, how they handle certain things. And I was just always mindful and paid a lot of attention to to those guys. So what were some of the early uh challenges or adversities that you faced coming up? I would say it was just really trying to focus on one or like I I never focused on one sport growing up, you know? It wasn’t like I was I knew I wanted to be a athlete, but I didn’t know what like I didn’t really get a clear vision until probably eighth grade, freshman year, but like before that it was like, you know, football, basketball, track, you know, hopefully football or basketball. Like football was the first sport I actually like was dominating that. Like I felt like every time I stepped on the field I was the best player like you know and and that was all the way up you know basketball it it was like that but it wasn’t the same cuz I played on such a good team you know growing up that like I wasn’t the star player right it was like we all was good we all we won all the time so it wasn’t like I was dominating as where I was in football I’m the quarterback I’m touching it every play I’m running I’m throwing you know I’m dominating the game I think for me it was just focusing on, you know, one thing, you know, how how can I get better at at one sport and I think it didn’t it didn’t really click for me until, like I said, like eighth grade, freshman year. I think when I got my first offer for basketball, I was in eighth grade and I was like, “Okay, I’mma now I’m going to spend my summers doing strictly basketball cuz before that it was, you know, I’m going I’m I got a quarterback coach. I’m going to the field. I’m doing stuff and then and then I’m going to the gym, too.” So, it was always both. But I think once I got to that point, it was like, “All right, I’mma I’mma, you know, commit all my time and all my energy to hoop.” When did you start being hunted? You know, I went to Marcus Spears, who does NFL Live. His son is a sophomore. He’s like top five in his class. And so I went to watch their AAU games, and it’s obviously all these former players that coach, but it’s all these college coaches on the side. But you could see like the way the dudes they were playing tried to attack them. Yeah. Right. like I’m going to go out and get my name off of this kid. When did that start to happen for you when you were walking in the gym and people understood, okay, that’s Paulo. If I go get him, if I outplay him, then that sheds light on me. I would say that didn’t happen until I started getting um offers from from the Blue Buds and stuff like that, you know, because I kind of I kind of hit the scene in a in a sneaky way almost, you know, like I I started playing up, you know, in eighth grade I was playing 16U and then my freshman year I played 17U. I played with Jaden McDaniels who’s starting for the Wolves right now. That was when I was 15. It was a 17U team. And I remember like I remember my mom I remember some of my AU coaches being like unsure if I was going to be able to like hold my own on that level because it was EBL top like Nike circuit and I was playing two years up and so like going into that spring summer my mom was like hey you know maybe you should play 16 you know we don’t know you know just you know you might be better off playing you know one year up instead of two years up. Yeah. And I was like, “No, I’m trying to play two years up.” Like, you know, I want to see what that’s about. And so, I just remember that being like a thing. And then, you know, my first game, you know, I I had a great game in my first session. I played great. And after that, it was curtains like and and I think that was when I realized like, okay, I’m I’m a lot better than than everyone thought, like, right? You know, cuz I had just finished my freshman year of high school, you know, and that’s just local. And I did well, but like I said, it’s just local. So, once you go on a national stage, it’s it’s a little different. But I felt comfortable. I was hooping. Like I was a big kid, so I felt physically ready, you know? And I was like, man, this is this is easier than I thought. Like it’s it’s good competition, but like I can hold my own. I’m good, right? And so I kind of snuck up in that regard where like I’m playing two years up and everybody’s like, who’s this kid? But I would say the year after that, my sophomore year was when I started getting like the Dukes and the, you know, Kuckies coming in. Did you play on the same team the next year? Cuz you didn’t have to move up. I had to move up. Yeah. So, I was now playing one year up the next year and I started getting, you know, a lot more recognition. I won MVP of the uh NBA top 100 camp, which was a huge camp. And so, I think after that, I started getting hunted. But honestly, man, like I I never had nobody like come and like go at me and like like cuz I just never allowed that to get in my head. Like I never allowed myself to be like, “Oh, I’m I’m top five now. I got a Duke offer. Like, I’m good.” Yeah. That was never me. Even though I was a top three player, I’m like, “Shit, I ain’t number one.” you know, I’m still I’m still hunting. I always had that in the back of my head. If I’m playing a guy who I know is ranked top 30, I already know he’s coming. And so, I’m not I’m not coming in thinking I’m gone. Like, no, I got to prove to this dude why I’m where I’m at and why he’s where he’s at. So, that’s just how I always thought. I love that. Yeah. Know, I love that mentality, too. But, I want to take this moment. We It’s a little pause in the show, right? RC has this thing where he likes to cut the room based on his Super Bowl wins. If we have guests that have Super Bowl wins or what have you, you and I, we’re the only one on this set right now that were drafted in the top 10 of our of our respective sports. So, we get to cut the room like like this. That is a wild statement, but he’s so good at what he does. So, we’ll let him stay. Just even with that, just want to kind of get the draft night, right? Then taken number one overall. Cooper Flag, who will be selected number one overall. Another Duke alum. Take us back to your draft night. Are there any like memories or emotions that you still carry with you to this day? No. Draft night, that was one of the best nights of my life. One of the craziest nights of my life just emotionally cuz I woke up that day, you know, I would say probably 85 90% sure I was going to go two or three. Mhm. So, and I was happy like I was good. I was super excited for it. I was ready to get drafted. And then like kind of as that day went on hour by hour, it kind of got like more and more intense where like you know my agent he coming back to me like hey we might we might have action on number one and I’m like for real and he’s like yeah man like be ready stay ready like I don’t know but just be ready. And so kind of as the day went on I remember just the nerves building up and then I remember where uh it was like 45 minutes before the draft they they have all the guys come out with their families onto the stage. So they had us in the back of the the backstage area and they had a TV up and it was on NBA Today but there was no volume on it. They just had subtitles and I saw my p I’m sitting there with my parents and we’re just watching the TV. I see my name on the TV and they’re like and I see I’m reading the subtitles and it’s like I think it was Wge talking and he’s like you know it says Ben Carol is gaining momentum for number one pick. I’m just like I tap my mom and dad. I’m like, yo, like like that [ __ ] might happen. And so we like walked onto the stage and then once we sat down, it was like on from that point. Like my agent Mike Miller, he’s sitting there next to me and he’s stressing like he won’t he ain’t putting down his phone. He’s like talking to himself, you know, like trying to, you know, get himself locked in and I’m just sitting there trying to keep calm. And then uh yeah, by the time it was time to the draft, you know, the it was like between three guys and then before the commissioner come out, like all the cameras start coming to my table and I was like, damn, it’s about to be me. And then my agent slid over the phone and and showed me a text that said, you know, I was going to go number one and and like I just I damn near lost it. You know, I almost started crying right there. And so just the emotions of of being content with going number two or three and being excited about that to then like it kind of being, you know, 360 and now I’m about to go number one, which is like a whole different deal just to be the number one pick. Um, but I’m I’m blessed of how it all worked out, man. It was crazy to to go. When does it go from that level of excitement to the pressure to have to or does it ever get to a pressure situation where being number one overall now you got to go out there and prove you deserve to to be that? Yeah. No, I think it was pressure because, you know, I didn’t I didn’t visit the Magic during my pre-draft process. You know, I visited the two the the second pick and the third pick, OKC and Houston, but I didn’t visit the Magic. So like I didn’t I had never been to Orlando. I didn’t step in their building and they still chose me. And so I was like it was some of that pressure of like all right they’re they’re choosing me cuz they really do believe that I can come you know change things around and kind of turn this whole thing around you know cuz we didn’t meet you know they didn’t get me in the building. I didn’t do a workout or anything but they just believed in me that much. And so for to them, I’m, you know, forever grateful that they, you know, took the chance and pick me cuz, you know, I think that’s, you know, rare for a player not to come in and visit, not to work out and still get picked number one to that place. So, I think I felt that pressure. I think once I realized I was going to Orlando, I was like, you know what? I I got to come in and and be the guy from day one and just give them my 100%, you know, effort and focus from the from the from the start cuz, you know, they’re taking this chance on me, so I got to prove him right. It’s Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Weber, Dwight Howard, and Paulo Vancerol. Yeah, those are the four first overall picks of the Orlando Magic. Obviously, a trade happened with Chris, but the other two took the Orlando Magic to the finals. And in your first year, you become rookie of the year, but you get to a game seven in the first round. What was that experience like for you and what did you take from it? It was eye opening. You know, I think coming into the league, especially as a young player, you know, you’re just trying to get yourself established and get your feet under you. The playoffs is a whole different ball game. Like, um I I’ve said before, you know, I talked to Anthony Edwards after my rookie season and we was just we was on the World Cup team together and he was just telling me, you know, how real the playoffs are and just how different it is from the regular season. And, you know, everything he said was right. You know, once I got there in my second year, you feel the difference, right? you know, you feel the difference the way the game’s refed, you know, the referees aren’t calling it the same, the intensity from from both sides, you know, it’s a different intensity on the court, you know, and just just the pressure, the momentum, how heavy it is. Um, you feel the difference. And you know, game seven specifically was like all of that times five, you know, and and it was just a great experience for me, great experience for the team to be in those moments and in those environments. And, you know, to be in our first playoff series and and to take it to length, you know, all the way seven games. Um, it showed us a lot about who we were as a team and as a unit. you know, you know, obviously this year was a little different playing Boston, but you know, I think both of the experiences have helped us. And, you know, next year, I think that’s the the goal is to, you know, advance past the first round. Now, we’ve been in the first round these two years. We felt like what it’s like to go to a game seven, felt like what it’s like to lose 4-1. So, like now, let’s build on both of those experiences and get, you know, make a run next year, you know, get past the first round. Right after you hit uh 50 this year, you got hurt. Yeah. and it wasn’t one of those injuries where you could bounce back really quickly. How much disappointment did you feel in that? Because you were becoming obviously already an all-star, but becoming one of those guys that people expected to show up every night and you don’t just drop 50. Yeah. And it sometimes that could be one of those things that you are allowed to continue to ascend, not only you, but your team. How difficult was that stretch sitting out when you knew that was time you guys could be gaining ground in the East? Yeah, it was hard. It was hard for everybody. Um, hard for the team, hard for myself. Um, because like you said, it was so early, you know, dropping 50 game four. Like I knew I was going to come in and have a big year, but like coming in that way and having 50 points, like it kind of was almost for me like, oh, like like now I’m I’m really like going to take over this year. Like I’m really on that this year. And so the game I got hurt, I had 31 halfway through the third quarter. And so like I was in such a groove like like mentally and physically I was physically in shape mentally. I’m the game is slow. I’m I’m getting to where I want to go. I’m I’m manipulating you know the game and you know getting who I want matched up and and making the passes at the right time. And it felt like everything was clicking and then for that injury to happen it just you know put a pause on all that. And so for me personally, it felt like, you know, food was taken off my plate in terms of like I come into the year working so hard in the offseason and I just knew I was going to have a huge third year. I had all these goals, you know, that I wanted to hit and the 50point game was like like a a confirmation of like n yeah, the work I did is is showing up and like that’s it’s only game four I’m doing this like it’s going to be a long season for everybody else. You know, that’s just how I felt. And then so to to go down with the injury, it kind of was like a a just a hit to the stomach where I was like, you know, I’ve never had to deal with an injury like that, you know, ever in my career outside of a, you know, sprained ankle, you know, I’ve never had any tears or or broken bones. Thank God. And so to to go down with the oblique Yeah. It was just a like a reality check almost of like, you know, I’m not Superman, you know, I gota stuff like that can happen to anybody, you know, and so it uh it was a reality check, but I think, you know, I handled it well. I handled it well. You know, I stayed locked in through the time I was hurt. You know, I still traveled with the team and just did my rehab that way and just tried my best to do what I could to stay mentally sharp. Um, and then when I came back, it was a it was a physical, you know, adjustment I had to make, you know, just to getting back used to the physicality and getting back in shape. You know, it took me a while to to get my feet under me. But, you know, I was proud how I finished the year um and played in the playoffs. You know, I think I, you know, I played well and was able to bounce back in that regard, but I still wasn’t, you know, at all satisfied by how my third year went. Freddy T, man, I know you’ve been back in the gym. I think it was old Travis Hunter getting drafted down there that inspired you. You know what I’m saying? My dog play both sides of the football. I mean, just think, man, if he had some of this kachiva, man, shoot this all in one. It’s like a nutrition shake, but it’s plant protein. Like, this would be something that got you right back in the day. Hey, bro, you’re right. I would have definitely loved this back in the day, but even better now, it supports everything I need for my energy, digestions, my muscles, my weight. I’ve been watching my weight. Has 25 grams of plant protein, 85 superfoods. I mean, they should have named it everything cuz it has everything. And what’s crazy to me though, like you said, the plant protein, I was like, man, I got to be a vegan to take Kachaba. But then I looked at it, bro, adding plant-based protein to your diet is a great way to get all the nourishment you need. And it’s a whole body experience. And what’s dope about it, Freddy T, is you can try Kachava now risk-free with their love it guarantee. Hey, bro, that’s a fact. When I had it, I felt focused, energized, calm, and full for hours. When they say whole body, they wasn’t lying. I mean, absolutely, man. Fuel your game with Kachava. Go to kachava.com and use the code pivot for 15% off a subscription for a limited time. That’s kachava k a c hava.com. Use code pivot for 15% off. I saw your exit interview. You expressed, you know, want to extend and be in Orlando a lot longer. You’re a smart kid, too, because no state taxes in Florida. That’s always a bonus. Yes, sir. So, uh, it’s always so with you and money, dog. No, I mean I always tell people I going ninth I still I feel like I got the best deal in my draft cuz I was at home in Florida, no state tax. Like that’s that’s a win-win. Great weather, you know, all that stuff. But but just just going back to the Magic as a whole, like the East is tough. You know, y’all got some team, you know, Cleveland, what they’ve done, Boston, the Knicks, what they’ve built there. What will it take for you as the leader, as the franchise player of the Magic and the rest of the guys? What will it take to to get you guys past, you know, the first rounds where you’re competitive and, you know, we can see you in the Eastern Conference final? No, I think it’s going to take one, I think, health. I think that’s the biggest thing is, you know, obviously not everyone’s going to be healthy all the two games, but you want your main guys to be healthy, you know, for the playoffs. And so I think this year not having Jaylen Suggs that hurt us a little bit, you know, because he’s such a big piece for us. So I think health, but also just like I said, learning from these last two years, right? Like, you know, we’ve been out in the first round, the first first two years in the playoffs, you know, why is that? You know, what what do we need to get better at? What do we need to work on? You know, where are some of our deficiencies? Where are some of our strengths? And how does it all translate into winning in the playoffs? And so I think that’s the biggest thing is not only focusing on the regular season success, but like how can we be successful in the playoffs? I think you see some of these teams like like the Knicks or the Cavaliers, you know, they they like like the Knicks, they’ve been in the playoffs the last couple years, but they went and, you know, go get some guys. And I think their mind is they’re trying to win for the playoffs. And Boston, you know, they’re trying to win for the playoffs. And I think you can just feel that when you play against some of those teams. And so I think that’s our next step is like focusing on, you know, what do we need to do as a team, as a as an organization to to have success in winning the playoffs and make those deep runs. You know, I want to switch it up a little bit. Uh I read your diaries in the Nscape, you know, and you and your two homeboys was on Safari in Disney. Yeah. You know, when you get to this point and you are the guy, right? you know, when you grow up in some places like me and Freddy and yourself, sometimes the the the OGs or the older guys are like, “Okay, he’s gonna make it.” You know, we’re going to mentor him. We’re going to take care of him. We’re going to wrap our arms around him. But then when you become a draft pick and you become a star, it’s like, who are those people to keep you grounded? Your two homeboys are with you. You know, you even said, you know, man, like they they do everything I ask them to do, even though I don’t try to take advantage of that. What is it like to have two people, man, that you’ve known your entire life be in your corner that way at this point in your life? I think you realize the value of it as you keep think going and and reaching new heights. You know, having people with you that’s been there since the beginning, it just keeps you grounded and it keeps you keeps perspective on like, you know, where you started, how far you’ve came and, you know, having their perspective always, you know, keeps me balanced because, you know, they keep it real. They don’t they’re not yesmen, you know. If anything, they’re they’re the opposite. You know, they see something they don’t like, they see something I’m doing that they don’t agree with, you know, they’re going to let me know and they’re going to speak their mind. And when they do, you know, I take that in as, you know, they’re they’re speaking from a place of, you know, genuine love for me and for our friendship and our relationship. So, both of those guys I’ve known since elementary, middle school days, playing football, playing basketball with them. We all went to high school together. And so, we’ve seen each other through it all. You know, I feel like we’ve just grown like stuff we’ve had to deal with. You know, I think we was in high school during co, right? So, like that was like especially in Washington, like everything was shut down for for two years. And so, we didn’t have nothing to do but to just wake up and and talk about what we was going to do once once all this [ __ ] got over. And so I think going through that and then just me going off to college and them staying home back in Seattle and then me, you know, making it to the NBA, you know, I told him, you know, I want y’all to come with me, you know, cuz my family, right, my my mom and dad, they got my brother and sister, you know, so they’re not going to, you know, they wasn’t going to get up and move from Seattle all the way to Florida, you know, that’s just not who my parents are. My parents is both born and raised in Seattle. They don’t they don’t really want to leave. So, um, you know, I told them like, “Hey, I need somebody out here with me. You know, I can’t be here by myself.” Just as a 19-year-old, like that was going to be tough. So, you know, they was, you know, graceful enough to like come out there and get up and come, you know, be with me and be by my side and help me out with whatever it is I need. And, you know, we still best friends, you know, we still kick it, we still crack jokes, like we do all the stuff friends do. Um, but we also understand that we’re all working towards something and we understand what the goal is. And you know, no one understands that more than them. They don’t let me get distracted. They make sure I’m I’m working out on my stuff throughout the summers. You know, we ain’t just chilling, BSing. You know, we locked in back home, getting up at the getting up at the same time every day, going to get our work done, and then, you know, chilling after that. It’s never chill before you work. You know, it’s always work before you chill. So, tell me what happened that started the 5:00 a.m. wakeups. And they said you did something that uh made you had to get up at 5:00 a.m. I just want to know what it was. Oh man. Wasn’t even nothing crazy. Like it was something I think it was something petty where like my mom was like, “You know what? Your ass is getting up at 5:00 a.m. and working out.” I ain’t going to lie, high school, I ain’t really like lifting weights like that. I was a big kid. Like I was growing too. So like my body I was like, I don’t really want to lift. I’m growing. I’m a hooper. like lifting ain’t really what I’m trying I’m just trying to get better work on my game. And so like I think they were doing some lifting program at my high school and like I was skipping it. I wasn’t doing it right. I was it was supposed to be after school. Yeah. But I was going to just hoop, right? Really? I’m supposed to be lifting. And so my mom, she end up uh finding out or they said I wasn’t going to the lifting program after school. And so like we got into it about that. I’m telling her I don’t want to lift. I’m trying to just focus on this. And she like no you need to lift. you need to be doing this. And then it kind of got to that point she was like, “You know what? Since you don’t want to listen, your ass is going to get up at 5 since you want to go hoop, right? You going to get up at 5:00 and go hoop before school.” Cuz I was doing it after, right? So she was like, “No, you going to get up at 5 and go before school and and do all the hoop and go hoop all you want at 5:00 a.m., right?” And so it was like that and I end up doing I was like, “Shit, I can do this.” You know, but then what it was, I my basketball coach, he started he started catching me sleep in class. So then he he had to go back to my mom like, “You got to cut the 5:00 a.m. workouts cuz I was I was catching up on sleep in the classroom.” But yeah, that was my mom, man. She was she was she was hard. She was tough, right? Yeah, she was tough. But all that stuff, I think, just molded me into who I am. Like it just helped me, you know, realize like the work ethic, you know, you can’t teach work ethic, you know? It got to be in you, you know. So, I think my mom having her, you know, always on my ass, it just drilled that into my head like you don’t want to work, you don’t want to work during this time, you going to work during this time and it’s non-negotiable. So, you um mentioned going off to Duke, you know, your homeboy staying at home. What is like Coach K is one of those like mythical head coaches, right? that everybody from the outside we you see him and you want like a piece of knowledge, a piece of wisdom, but he’s also sort of quiet away from the court. What is something that in your short time there you were able to take away from Duke? He taught me more in those 9 10 months than any coach has taught me in my life, you know, just basketball off the court, on the court. One thing he always stressed especially to me was was having a strong presence and a strong strong face as he would say but really a strong presence where you know any room you walk into you know whether it’s a basketball gym a meeting room you know an interview you know having a strong presence about you having a strong you know strong appearance strong look you know you don’t want to show any forms of weakness you don’t want to show fatigue you don’t want to show um frustration sadness, like you want to look strong in everything you do. I think that was something that as a 18-year-old going into college, I didn’t really understand at the time or like didn’t have a full grasp of like what he meant when he would say that. And I think, you know, ever since kind of I’ve left, it’s like I’ve seen exactly what he means and exactly what he was talking about where like, you know, these rooms you’re walking into as a professional athlete, you know, you don’t want to show weakness. You don’t want to show any of that because, you know, you’re being looked at as to the team as an investment, right? They’re going to pay you millions of dollars to represent their franchise. Like, you can’t show you you don’t want to be a head case, you know, showing all this emotion and being frustrated and pissed off. Obviously, there’s points where that does happen, but you know, just in general, as a leader of men, as a leader of a team, you can’t do that. And so I think him understanding where I was headed and what my goals were, he knew I wanted to be number one pick. He knew I wanted to, you know, be a star in the NBA. And so I think he was preparing me for what what comes with that and how I would have to handle myself. And I think, you know, he just helped me tremendously in that aspect because without him, I don’t know if I would have, you know, under understood that. I don’t know if I would have, you know, had the maturity that I do now in terms of how I carry myself and how I just go about my business. That’s all. Yeah. The dynamics of um going into a NBA locker room at 19, right? How were you welcome, you know, to the Orlando Magic organization. Were there any veterans that kind of pulled you to the side and sort of chopped it up with you and gave you advice? No, I was welcome with open arms. You know, they they welcomed me open arms from the second I got there. Um the team was great. Like I remember first meeting the team at summer league that year and us doing like a dinner and them being like the the coolest group of dudes I really ever been around. And uh you know a couple guys who were there my rookie year that really helped me. Um one was Markeel Folks. Uh he was a former number one pick. So he he understood the the shoes I was in. And so he was with me my first two years there. He helped me a ton man. Like Udub guy. Udub guy. You know I knew that. You know I looked up to Markeel like watching him. I was in like eighth grade when he was at the dub. And so I was like at that stage where I was like realizing my NBA dreams and to see a dude come to Udub and go number one was like amazing to me. You know just to see that up close. I went to you know his games and so to see it was crazy. And then when I got to know him and actually be around him like you know he helped me a lot because I think my rookie year I just wanted to be so good. I wanted to do so good that you know when I didn’t play well or I had a rough night whatever like I would take it super hard. I would put so much know unnecessary, you know, burden and pressure on myself in he would see that and, you know, he was always the guy to pull me to the side and just be like, you know, relax, bro. Like, it’s 82 games, bro. Like, you ain’t about to play, you ain’t about to have a great game every night. It’s just not going to happen like that. And so, he always just kept that perspective where like, you know, you you pressing so hard to to be great and to do [ __ ] the right way. And he’s just that he was just that calm and presence. And he was like that not just for me, for the whole team, honestly. But I think for me being a number one pick and him being in those same shoes and him dealing with the the stuff he had to deal with in terms of the struggles and, you know, how people wrote him off and all that, like he understood more than anybody, you know, just how how all this can affect you. And so he was a huge help for me my first two years. A huge help. Another guy was Terence Ross, another UDub guy actually who I watched growing up a lot. He he helped me a lot too because he had been there for I think eight years in Orlando. I looked up to him too, you know. I would go to him, you know, ask him, you know, what he thought about how I was playing, you know, what I could do better. And he was just always a really really down to earth dude. And he would just keep it keep it straightforward. You know, I think you could do this more, you know, but at the same time, you know, you are doing this, but you know, I would like to see you do, you know, more of this for the team or or for yourself. And so I think just having him to go to and be like, you know, what you think? um about how I’m playing or what you think about this and him just giving me that honest feedback, you know, helped me because I knew it was coming from a good place. Like T Ross, one of the chillest dudes ever and so I knew it was coming from the right place, you know, he wasn’t trying to, you know, lead me in any uh one direction. Yeah. Speaking of you, Dub, your mom left as the all-time leading scorer when she was there. You guys used to play many one-on- ones coming up. More my younger days, but we we played some one-on-one games. When did you start winning them? I would say I started I would say I started winning probably around 12 13 years old. I got a little more skilled. Could go past her. I could go past her. But before that it was just straight like I couldn’t even she would turn her back on me. I couldn’t even get around to strip the ball. It was just walk me down to the front of the rim. But she stopped playing me though. Like after once once I I think I beat her the first once one or two times she just stopped playing me. It’s apparent once you lose this. It’s no longer fun to play. Yeah. after that. Like that’s a wrap. Nicole went to North Carolina, right? She did sadly. Yeah. Yeah, she went to North Carolina. So, you’re not like all Duke Blue Devil, but also Jamal gives you a call that Michael Jordan wants to talk to you. How were you able to put your uh your Duke ties aside? Oh, that was Yeah, that was easy when it was when it was MJ. It was easy, man. I Hey, that was easy. But yeah, that was wild, I think, because during that time I was, you know, figuring out, you know, where I was going to sign shoe deal and all that endorsement. It was between Adidas and Jordan. I just got a call from Jamal. I was in the airport actually, I remember. And uh I hadn’t talked to him in a minute. And he just called me. He was like, “Yo, how you doing? What’s up?” He was like, “Man, you won’t guess who I just got off the phone with.” And I was like, “Who?” He was like, “The black cat.” And I was like, “Black, who the black cat?” He was like, “Michael Jordan, bro.” And I was like, “Michael Jordan.” I was like, “About what?” He’s like, “About you, dog.” He’s like, “He called me about you, right?” And he was like, “Michael Jordan don’t ever call me.” And he was like, “So the fact that he called me, you know, to talk about you like, man, he he really wants you to be a part of Jordan.” And I was like, “Damn, for real?” He was like, “Yeah, man.” Like called me, said he loves your game, you know, loves loves you about the right stuff. Like, you know, he said like he we got to get you to the brand. Like [ __ ] that’s that’s all you had to say. And I think I I signed with Jordan. I don’t know. I think I signed right after summer league. Yeah. And so just hearing that, you know, and knowing Jamal like he ain’t just going to say that, you know, he he really got that call. And I end up getting to meet Michael Jordan last year in co I had just watched The Last Dance, too, right? Like that came out. I watched that about two three times. And so just to be able to sign with Jordan and be a part of that brand and and just the greatness that is associated with that brand and me trying to, you know, build my own, you know, greatness. Uh it’s no better place to be for me. So really excited about that. So you got North Carolina all over, man. Yeah. You know what? I ain’t going to lie. I growing up, I I actually like the Tar Hills a little bit. I can’t lie. you know, cuz my my my Rotary team, my high school AAU team or elementary through high school AU team is uh Carolina blue colors. So, like that was my colors I wore playing. So, we always, you know, we always like Carolina. And my mom, she also had a a player that she coached in high school go on to play in North Carolina. And so, there was some ties there to North Carolina, but I end up being a Blue Devil. I’m proud to be a Blue. Ain’t nothing wrong with that. I I couldn’t shoot a basketball good enough to be either. Um, Michael Jordan brings me to like the clutch gene. Yeah. It shows up in the playoffs. And you think about these playoffs, you know, you had Donovan Mitchell scores 48, I think, points. Hallebertton doesn’t have a great day. He hits the clutch shot. Uh, you had the Clippers where James Harden doesn’t play well in a game seven, the Denver Nuggets find a way to win. What is it about those pressure moments, Paulo, that allows some people to step up and shine and then others to fall short of what they need to accomplish? I think really what I’ve learned in my in my life or my short career so far is that, you know, you got to have like the shortest memory ever. like a shortterm memory. You know, whether it’s a great you’re having a great game or a bad game because especially in the playoffs, you know, if the game’s tied with two minutes to go, then nothing else that has happened in the 46 minutes before that matters cuz the game’s tied up two minutes to go 0 0. And so, just having that, you know, that that short-term memory of like, you know, whether I’m 0 for 10 or or 10 for 10, you know, I got to show up in these last two minutes. I got to show up in the fourth quarter, you know, because this is the money time. this is when the game is won or lost in this in this time right here. And so I think having that perspective of, you know, whether it’s something, you know, if it’s if it’s breathing or breath work or if it’s like meditation you do in the huddle, like something that that that grounds you and settles you down for, you know, this fourth quarter or this last five minutes. I think for me that’s just where I try to find myself going to is like when you get in those clutch situations or those big games whether it’s on the road whatever crowd is loud like you know how can I ground myself bring myself back home and get ready to go win this game and so I think you know like you said Hallebertton you know Donovan Mitchell got 48 but you know Hallebertton made enough plays to win that game at the end and so you know they ain’t going to remember that 48 as much as going remember that last shot and so I think just you know doing whatever ever it takes to win the win the game I think is the biggest thing. What stands out the most so far in these uh in these playoffs? I ain’t going this has been this has been great playoffs so far. I mean it’s still early but I think these playoffs have been great. I think what stood out for me is you know the a lot of these teams especially the road teams you know they’re coming in I think playing with a sense of freedom. You know, I think when you play on the road in the playoffs, if you’re able to win one of those first two games, it kind of sets the tone for the rest of the series, you know, I think the series doesn’t start until a road team wins. Yeah. Um, so I think the the first games of the second round, New York one, Indiana won, Golden State, I think every road team won. And so I think you’re really going to see what these top seed teams are are made of. And so I think some of these teams that you see get, you know, the 60 plus win seasons, it’s like, you know, those are great seasons, but then it’s like you got to you got to reciprocate, you got to perform that same way in the playoffs. And so I think for me, it’s just interesting to see, you know, cuz I’m trying to get to the second round. I’m trying to get to the Eastern Conference Finals. So just kind of sitting back watching learning like all right well these guys were dominating during this time but you know hey you know the Indiana you know if they handle business this going to be their second straight year being in the Eastern Conference Finals and they haven’t been a top three seed and so it’s like you’re seeing like okay these this is how they’re playing you know in these in these moments right here like they’re they’re moving the ball they’re everyone’s sharing everyone’s guarding like playoffs is a different game you know you can’t look at the regular regular season to really compare it to the playoffs. You know, you see teams play differently. You see players play differently, good and bad. You see some guys that that are killing in the regular season. You know, there’s stats drop in the playoffs cuz it ain’t it ain’t as free flowing. It’s not as open. You know, this the court isn’t as open in space in the playoffs. It’s slow. It’s condensed. And then you see some players who, you know, maybe in the regular season they’re here and then all of a sudden they they rise up to the occasion and take their game to another level. So for me, I’m just sitting back watching it all, just taking notes. You’ve been highly successful early on in your career. If there was one thing or some things that right now in this off season you’re focusing on, what are those things you want to go back into camp with this year in ways you’ve elevated yourself as a leader and as a player? Yeah, I think going into next year, definitely taking the next step as a leader, you know, vocally, you know, and just through my actions and what I do on the court, you know, I think I’ve done a good job of it, but I think I can still take another step in terms of just trying to elevate those around me, teammates, coaches, everyone. Just elevating the the whole, you know, environment, you know, cuz I think in order to be winning on in the biggest stage and in the playoffs, you have to create that environment. you have to create that culture, you know, in October and September during training camp and it has to last you the whole year. You have to, you know, hold that standard at a certain level um throughout the whole season. So, I think just me working on that for myself and coming in with that mentality and then um you know, with my game, just bettering every part of my game. Um, but I think specifically, you know, becoming a better shooter, um, becoming a better decision maker, you know, watching more film, seeing how teams guard me, what I’ve been dealing with my first three years, what I’m what I do well against, what I don’t do well against, you know, seeing where where some teams have tried to, you know, attack my weaknesses. Yeah. Whether it’s, you know, on on offense or defense, you know, just getting better, you know, trying to find every weakness that that they can go at and trying to better it. Um, so that’s been the focus. 298 and four in five playoff games. This season ain’t bad at all. Some stuff to build on, but that’s amazing. Uh, we always ask our guests what’s their biggest pivot in life. That’s that one moment you can look back on and say without this happening to me or for me, I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today. M without this happening, man. I would I would say I would say maybe maybe co happening man cuz I just think it happened in such a pivotal time for me. We had just lost the state championship my junior se my junior season we lost in the state championship on Saturday night and then everything got shut down on Tuesday the next Tuesday. So it was like my season had just got over and then like school was out, everything was shut down and so it was like you it was like okay when when’s this going to be over and then it just never got over. And so I think a lot of people just kind of went with it and you know stayed cooped up in the house and just did nothing. And I think for me it was the opposite. Like luckily I had, you know, a trainer in Seattle who who had gym access, which was amazing because when I look back, like there was no park you could go to, no gym you could go to. Like every possible basketball court was literally shut down. Like they had chains on nets like you couldn’t even shoot outside if you wanted to. Wow. He had a gym, a little little small little gym in downtown little coded door, somewhere like this. Like you wouldn’t even expect it to be a gym. You just walk in there and it’s a gym. He had that opening and I was in there seven days a week for a year straight. Wow. And I just got myself in ridiculous shape going into college. Like once once that junior season was over and and everything got shut down, like my mind immediately went to all right, I got to be ready to go to Duke because I know when I go to Duke, the next step is the league. And so I think it just shifted my mind of like instead of focusing on like senior prom and just my senior year of high school, it was like no, that’s over with. Co kills all that. It’s it ain’t no senior year. Like you doing you’re doing school online, right? So there’s nothing there’s nothing to look forward to in high school anymore. Like everything I’m looking forward to is college and beyond. And then coming in during that time, Coach K let me know that it was going to be his last year. So now I really know, you know, all right, like this is my one year. This is his last year. It’s it’s going to be it’s going to be a big thing. I got to be ready for it. And then if I do what I’m supposed to do, then I should be able to go to the NBA. And so I think that was the biggest pivot was all that stuff happening um during that critical point in my life and me just kind of you know shifting my mindset almost to focus on you know the my future and doing whatever I had to do to prepare myself for the future. No that’s amazing man. The career and the trajectory uh seems like the sky’s is the limit and also that sort of mindset the way that you approach it. I think a lot of young athletes can learn from that. That, you know, when you said earlier, yeah, I know if I’m top three that if you top 30, you’re coming for me. I don’t think people understand that as much as they need to sometimes, man. But best of luck. Thank you for adjusting your schedule. Thanks to your team as well for continuing to work with us, man. This was amazing. I appreciate your time. Yeah, the other light skin, he got sick or something. All this traveling, but he doesn’t take no baths, though, you know. like a guy pinning it. I hear to witness it. Got my people feeling militant. Way to get me up on a mission. Got me up knowing me. I got the key on this vision. I can trust trust limit. I witness it. Got my people feeling militant. Way I’m feeling got me up.

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“It felt like food was taken off my plate…Came into this third year with all these goals, the 50 point game was a confirmation that the work I did was showing up…So to go down with an injury was like a hit to the stomach- it was a reality check, like I’m not Superman.” Paolo Banchero

In this episode of The Pivot Podcast, we sit down with Orlando Magic’s All-Star forward, Paolo Banchero, to discuss his journey from a standout freshman at Duke to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to battling adversity this past season dealing with serious injury and how he was able to lead his young team deep in first round of playoffs. 

Coming off a historic 50-point performance this pass season, Paolo opens up about his experiences in the NBA, his time under Coach K at Duke, and the challenges and triumphs of his rookie season. He shares insights into his mindset during high-pressure moments, the evolution of his game, and his aspirations for the future. He talks about the strength of his family grounding him, growing up in Seattle with basketball idols becoming his mentors and the call from Michael Jordan that changed his outlook in life. 

Paolo shares his takes on the current NBA playoff picture and how teams on the road win early games setting the tone for the upcoming conference series’ which is what led teams like NY and Indiana to the point they are at now. He gives us the one key that separates teams at this stage of the playoffs. 

Tap in now for our conversation with one of the league’s brightest young talents as he continues to make his mark in basketball, on and off the court.

Thank you to our friends and partners at KaChava for sponsoring this episode. Go to ⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠ and use code PIVOT for 15% off on their subscription for a limited time.

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