Photo: Peter Baba

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley got full support for his rising star Paolo Banchero towards the Rookie of the Year plum this 2022-23 season.

Mosley believes that there should be no race already for Banchero, who has been on a tear this year as the top overall pick of last year’s draft

“With all due respect, I don’t necessarily think it’s even a race,” Mosley said, per Khobi Price of Orlando Sentinel. “The kid has done a great job of impacting winning. Three times winning Rookie of the Month. Being able to create a different style of play throughout the entire year. Not just from going where he’s handling the ball the majority of the year to when our guards came back, he adjusted to that. Being able to keep everybody involved.

“Going through what they say was a slow portion of the year, and then bouncing right back. That level of resilience and toughness. Obviously talking about him putting up historic numbers for what he’s done. The biggest thing for us is his ability to impact winning for where we are. Plus-10 from last year. That’s a big portion of what he’s done.”

Banchero already bagged three-straight Rookie of the Month awards from December to February, as he is currently poised also to snatch the honors this March. The Duke standout has been averaging 20.1 points, 7.2 boards and 4.2 assists in 15 games played this month, as his performance keeps Magic pushing for still potential play-in slate. 

Though there are some other considerable candidates for the best rookie of the season in Walker Kessler, Jaylin Williams, and Ben Mathurin, Banchero remains a favorite by many to finish it strong and hoist the Wilt Chamberlain trophy.