Paolo Banchero had one of the most historic rookie seasons in NBA history, even if no one is really talking about it enough.
He became only the seventh rookie since the 2009 season to average 20.0 points per game or more. He became the fourth rookie to average at least 5.0 free throw attempts per game since Allen Iverson did it in the 1997 season.
Banchero was the near-unanimous Rookie of the Year winner. And he became this year’s rookie addition, alongside Walker Kessler, to the U.S.A. basketball program as he prepares to help the team compete at the FIBA World Cup in the Philippines.