Friday 24 June 2022 – 08:24
The Italian-American Paolo Banchero is the absolute first choice for the NBA
Sixteen years after Bargnani: “I dream of the national team”
Rome, June 24 (askanews) – The NBA draft speaks Italian, the choices of the American professional basketball championship. Former Duke star Paolo Banchero, credited as # 3 on the eve, becomes the first overall pick with commissioner Adam Silver first pronouncing his name in the 2022 draft.
Banchero, chosen with a little surprise by the Orlando Magic who prefer him to Jabari Smith, dropped to 3 for the Houston Rockets; at 2 Chet Holmgren for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Suit designed by Dolce and Gabbana (by Nimes) in Prince style (purple, a tribute to the University of Washington that his parents attended in Seattle).
Banchero is a long born in 2002 born in Seattle but of clear origins and an Italian passport. He is the son of athletes: his American mother Rhonda Smith played in the top women’s league (WNBA) while his father Mario is a former college-level American football player. The Ligurian great-grandparents of the first choice emigrated to the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century, to work as farmers and miners in the coal mines. Hence the double passport.
At the Gazzetta dello sport, a couple of hours after the call, he reaffirmed his intention to play for the national team. “I want to thank the Italian fans, I felt their love and support all season. I repeat that I will play for the national team, not this summer but next. A promise? Sure, rest assured “. Then he adds “It’s not even a dream – confesses the new Magic player-, it’s something bigger. I was hoping to be able to make it to the NBA, I never imagined becoming the absolute first choice. This is why I got so excited, I have never cried in my life until tonight. When did I find out that I was going to Orlando with the first choice? Honestly, only 20 seconds before the commissioner said my name. This is one of the best moments of my life, I’ll give my all for the Magic ”. An absolute first choice “blue”, then 16 years after Andrea Bargnani? “Well honestly, to define myself like this is not very fair towards Andrea Bargnani – concludes Banchero – he was born and raised in Italy, I in Seattle. But I am still very proud to be able to represent Italy in the NBA ”.
It was the bluest draft ever with Banchero number 1, Procida 36, Spanish 50. Gabriele Procida, 20, from Como, grew up in Cantù, wing of Fortitudo Bologna where this year he played 26 games with an average of 7 points and 3 rebounds per game. The young blue was selected, at number 36, by the Portland Blazers. Matteo Spanish from Brindisi, this year at Vanoli Cremona, was chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Choice number 50 but the play – he has a contract with Real Madrid – he should stay in Europe with the Wolves attentive to his progress before landing in the most important championship on the planet.
