Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has been voted the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year after leading all first-year players in scoring while averaging 20 points per game to take home the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
Banchero, who had been the forerunner for the award from the beginning of the season after he won rookie of the month four times, got 98 of the 100 first-place votes to beat the OKC Thunder’s Jalen Williams in second and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, who was third.
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero is the recipient of the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy as the 2022-23 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year.
Complete voting results and award history: https://t.co/IwW6c27wSC pic.twitter.com/9oZxZpY6RX
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 25, 2023
“I want to be more consistent, more dangerous from 3-point range next season,” Banchero said. “There were stretches during this year where I shot the ball well. I just need to find the consistency.
“I think expanding my range in Year 2, then just getting in best shape I possibly can — I think I was in good shape this year, but just want to take it to another level. To get to where I want to be, everything’s just going to have to be kicked up a notch. And I’m looking forward to that.”
The 20-year-old helped the Magic improve from a 22-win season last season to a 34-win season this season to become the first No. 1 pick to win the award in the season immediately after getting drafted since Karl-Anthony Towns did the same in 2016.
Banchero also became the third player to win rookie of the year as a member of the Magic, joining Shaquille O’Neal in 1993 and Mike Miller in 2001.
The Rookie of the year award is the sixth honour that has been dished out in the NBA so far this season, following the defensive player of the year (Jaren Jackson Jr.), coach of the year (Mike Brown), Clutch player of the year (De’Aaron Fox), Sixth man of the year (Malcolm Brogdon), and most improved player of the year (Lauri Markkanen).
