There will always be complaints about the NBA All-Star selection, but one thing the coaches got right this year for their reserves is Orlando Magic sophomore Paolo Banchero.
The 2023 Rookie of the Year was chosen as one of the reserves in the Eastern Conference alongside Jalen Brunson and Julis Randle of the New York Knicks, Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown, Miami Heat forward/center Bam Adebayo, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.
Banchero, Brunson, and Maxey are all first-time All-Stars.
There are a lot of expectations for Banchero, although they are a little tempered, given the strength of the Magic's roster.
They were not expected to be a mid-table team immediately, but that is what's happening now.
Banchero is at the forefront of this leap by the Magic, and for that, he was rewarded by NBA coaches.
"It would be huge. I can't sit here and downplay it, it'd be a big thing for me. Just a goal I've always had and it'd be a dream come true," Banchero said of his possible selection the day before.
Banchero's leap this season
The 21-year-old is entering a territory that only a few elite players were able to step on.
Lebron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, both with multiple MVPs on their name, once led their teams in major statistical categories.
At the age of 24, King James was the Cleveland Cavaliers leader in points (28.4), rebounds (7.6), assists (7.2), steals (1.7 spg), and blocks 1.1).
The Greek Freak did this, too, for the Milwaukee Bucks when he recorded 22.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.6 apg, and 1.9 bpg in the 2016-2017 season.
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Three other players achieve such a feat. They are Kevin Garnett in 2003 for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Scottie Pippen for the Chicago Bulls when Michael Jordan retired, and Dave Cowens of the Boston Celtics in the 1977-1978 season.
Banchero currently tops three of those five categories. This season, he leads his team in points with 23-7-5 on points, rebounds, and assists. He is third in blocked shots and fourth in steals.
He might occupy those spaces next season-or a few years from now.
This sounds too optimistic, but the acceleration of his game warrants such an opinion.
He is only in his sophomore year but is already the leader of the team filled with young guys. He also hasn't missed a game this season.
Lebron and Giannis were only able to dominate the major categories in their fourth or fifth season.
Magic started the season hot, occupying the second to third spot of the Eastern Conference table for almost a month.
Jamahl Mosley is beyond impressed by Banchero's rapid growth.
"He's beyond special," Mosley said early last month.
"I've seen a lot of special players in this league. He's one of them. He's not even scratched the surface of what he's capable of doing. But more importantly, is the fact that he's doing it the right way and leading his team to try to find ways to win."
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