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Duke Basketball great Paolo Banchero was the No. 1 overall pick in last summer’s draft and appears to be on the verge of winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Leading all season. Moreover, his resume is going from strength to strength.
Related: 30% of all-star starters are Blue Devils
On Monday night, the 6-foot-10 forward led the Orlando Magic (20-31) to an upset 119-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers (32-17). Banchero tallied his 29 points, a team-high, and his nine rebounds were another one of his former Duke Basketball forwards, alongside his forward Wendell Carter Jr., among his Magic players. was the most common in
In 44 games this season, Banchero is averaging 20.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Additionally, after starting the season with his 5-20 record, the Magic are now 15-6 in their last 21 games.
Meanwhile, as of the latest update of the 2022-23 Kia Rookie Ladder, Paolo Banchero has the company of two former Blue Devil teammates inside the top 12 of the race. This suggests that the 2021-22 ACC Rookie of the Year shouldn’t be the only Duke of his basketball offering to be a 2022 lottery pick.
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Related: Stack all 26 Duke One and Don in History
Atlanta Hawks forward AJ Griffin, who heard his name 16th overall on draft night, currently sits 10th on the Kia rookie ladder. And Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams, one spot behind Griffin, debuted in 12th place.
Griffin is averaging 9.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 47 games (25-26) with the Hawks, shooting 40.8 percent. He’s carving out a key role, knocking down several game-winning baskets so far this season.
Williams is averaging 7.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in 20 games with the Hornets (15-36). He spent most of the first two months of the season developing in the G League. 7 His footer has averaged 9.8 points over the last six games, and the Hornets have him 4-2 in that span.
Related: List of all Blue Devils currently in the NBA
For daily Duke basketball content, keep an eye on Blue Devil Country.
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