There are a certain amount of butterflies that come with every debut game.
The first of anything — whether it is the preseason or the regular season — comes with the uncertainty of the unknown.
Especially for rookies. Nobody really knows how they will react to the bright lights and pressures of the NBA and the games actually counting.
Things are going to be different.
But there is one thing that should be clear after watching Paolo Banchero in his time at Duke, and his debut with the Orlando Magic at Summer League and throughout his preseason run.
Banchero is smooth and unbothered. He is not going to let that nervousness show. And he is going to be ready when the lights turn on.
Paolo Banchero is set to make his debut for the Orlando Magic in Wednesday’s season opener. And everyone is excited to see him play.
The NBA made sure to put a headline on the top overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft’s debut game, matching him up with his predecessor in 2021 top overall pick Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. The quietly fun matchup between two up-and-coming teams in the league is swirling around.
What has made Banchero successful is his ability to focus on the moment. And that is where Banchero’s mindset is entering his first regular season game.
"“Just super excited,” Banchero said after practice Tuesday. “Probably the most excited out of all those things being able to finally get this thing going. First regular season game, every game counts. Every win and every loss. You’ve got to be locked in. It’s the start of a long season. I’m ready for it.”"
Banchero has already shown his ability to grow throughout the preseason.
He led the team in scoring with 14.0 points per game in the preseason, shooting 45.1-percent from the floor. The game looked smooth and slowed down for him and it never felt like he was imposing himself on the offense.
Banchero said he feels really comfortable with where his team has put him. The continuity within the team has certainly helped the team pick up concepts quickly and bring new players along.
He seemingly got better with each passing game. His comfort and the speed at which he played certainly suggested that.
It was the biggest thing he said he learned from his first taste of the NBA floor.
"“Just to be patient,” Banchero said after practice Tuesday. “There’s a lot more space and a lot more open. You can take your time to get to your spots, get the reads you want and make the play you want. You have a lot more time to do that. Me having the ability to do it, just learning. I don’t have it all figured it out yet. Just continue to learn and get a feel for it.”"
There is still a lot to explore with Banchero’s game. And he is going to continue to evolve as the season continues.
The Magic certainly experimented some with his play, increasing his load of pick and rolls. That was something he did not do a ton of at Duke as he focused mostly on post-ups and isolations at the college level.
While many expect Banchero to be the lead player for this team and be the top scorer, Banchero seems content to fit in and find his way, especially early on. He is still learning his reads and where to be on the floor.
The Magic, for their part, are always trying to decrease the pressure on him. The team has long said that it plans to score by committee, taking whatever the defense gives them and exploiting mismatches along the way.
Still, everyone knows just how good Banchero can be. And that has everyone excited to get this thing going with him.
"“Paolo’s first year in, he views this team as a team that he doesn’t necessarily have to score 40 points a night,” Wendell Carter said after practice Monday. “He is a hell of a player, he is going to have career nights here very soon. he also understands the game of basketball. That’s one thing I applaud him for. I think he is going to be an immediate force for us for sure.”"
Banchero is not one to show his excitement. But he knows Wednesday’s game at Detroit is a big moment for him. He is not going to hide completely from that.
Neither does his coach want him or any player to do that. The team is eager for the regular season to get started. And coach Jamahl Mosley does not want the players to forget about the joy of playing.
That could be one way to release some of the nervous energy. Especially for a rookie entering his first game.
"“It’s a tough mix and a good mix at the same time,” Mosley said after practice Monday. “You want that joy and excitement of putting on an NBA jersey for the first time in a real regular season game. You also have to help them understand, and what we’ve been talking about on a daily basis, enjoy and embrace each moment. Nothing is different. You are out there with your teammates, you are out there with your guys. Enjoy that. Are there going to be jitters? Absolutely. But you want them to feel the joy and excitement for playing the game that they love.”"
How Banchero reacts to all of this will be the big question when the ball tips off Wednesday night.
While Mosley has not settled on a final playing rotation or starting lineup, it is widely expected Banchero will be in the starting group to open the season. It is expected Banchero will get his chance to score and lead the team.
The Magic are able to give everyone that kind of freedom and trust Banchero as a playmaker to make the right plays. He has earned that through the preseason. He certainly has stayed level enough to make those decisions too.
This is the culmination of a lot of things for Banchero. But the 19-year-old rookie feels ready to go.
"“It’s a moment you’ve been working for my whole life trying to get to this point right here,” Banchero said after practice Tuesday. “It’s a milestone just getting here. It’s just the start, not the end. You have to come in prepared, be ready and play my best and play my hardest.”"
As good as Banchero wants to play, the first thing he wants to do is win. That will trump everything for him.
Now everyone is just eager to see him on the court for the first time.