Paolo Banchero only played in two Summer League games, but it didn't take him long to flash his potential.
In his debut, Banchero went for 17 points, six assists and four rebounds. He then posted 23 points, six assists, six rebounds and four steals in a double-overtime win.
Not only did Banchero come up with a clutch block in that game, but he delivered the game-winning assist.
MORE: What we learned about Banchero from NBA Summer League
Impressive as Banchero's numbers were, they weren't what caught the eye of Warriors star Draymond Green.
"Paolo Banchero, I think, is one of them ones," Green said on his podcast, "The Draymond Green show."
"The reason I think Paolo is one of them guys is because of the things that he did on the basketball court that were not scoring. Yes, he did all the things with the basketball, yes, he made the plays, but the plays that he made that did not involve him having the basketball is why I think Paolo is going to be one of them guys.
"Him getting on teammates coming in as a rookie, the winning plays that he was making down the stretch. When is the last time we've seen the Orlando Magic competing to win games like they were competing to win games when Paolo was out there on that court?"
"I hope that organization is ready for that player because that player is a winner, that player, he cares. I mean, he was out there playing in Summer League games like he was playing in the NBA Finals, with that type of intensity."
"That is a winner right before your eyes, and I hope that that organization is ready for that player."
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"That is a winner right before your eyes" 🗣️
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) July 14, 2022
—@Money23Green says Paolo Banchero is HIM pic.twitter.com/biDDTi5MGS
That's high praise coming from someone who knows a thing or two about winning.
The Magic are, of course, hoping Banchero lives up to the hype of being the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. In his one and only season at Duke, he averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game, earning him ACC Rookie of the Year and second-team All-American honors.
It once looked like Jabari Smith Jr. was going to be the No. 1 pick, but TSN's draft expert Kyle Irving had Banchero as the top prospect in the class throughout the entire process, saying he has "every opportunity to become a big-time star."
It sure sounds like Green is in agreement with that assessment.
