Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero accomplished a feat on Tuesday that’s been attained by only one other player in franchise history.
Banchero was named the NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in March and April, the league announced.
He joined Shaquille O’Neal as the only Magic players to be named Rookie of the Month four consecutive times.
The No. 1 pick in the draft, Banchero led rookies in scoring with 20.3 points per game for March/April to go along with 6.6 rebounds (sixth) and 4.2 assists (sixth). He also shot 38.7% (24 of 62) on 3-pointers.
Banchero, O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Mike Miller and Victor Oladipo are the only Magic players to be named Rookie of the Month more than once.
The nine Magic players who won Rookie of the Month:
- Dennis Scott (March 1991);
- O’Neal (four times — November 1992-February 1993);
- Hardaway (twice — January and April 1994);
- Miller (twice — February and March 2001);
- Oladipo (twice — December 2013 and February 2014);
- Elfrid Payton (January 2015);
- R.J. Hampton (May 2021);
- Franz Wagner (December 2021);
- Banchero (four times — December 2022-March/April 2023).
Rookie of the Month was awarded to one rookie in the NBA until the 2001-02 season, when the league started giving the honor to one rookie from each conference.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams, the No. 12 pick, was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month.
Banchero has the best bettings odds of winning Rookie of the Year.
He averaged 20 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 72 games, leading all rookies in scoring and minutes while also ranking third in assists and fifth in rebounding.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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