Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 overall pick, has historic NBA debut with the Orlando Magic

Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero displayed just why he went #1 overall in this past draft in his first career game against the Detroit Pistons, scoring the most points by any Magic rookie in a debut ever. That includes guys like Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, and Dwight Howard.

The 19-year-old immediately made an impact, scoring Orlando’s first four points and starting off 3-3 from the field. In the fourth quarter alone, he scored 13 points on 5-8 shooting from the field.

Overall, Banchero finished with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks on 11-18 shooting.

"It felt good. It's crazy. I felt like I left a lot of points on the board. I missed like three layups and missed some shots I could’ve made. A lot to work on, but I wasn’t disappointed with the way I played. I thought I played hard, I thought I played until the end. I thought we played hard. It’s a positive showing for us but obviously, we would’ve liked to get the win,” Banchero told reporters after the game.

Banchero also had the highlight of the game, finishing a ferocious one-hand dunk over Pistons guard Cory Joseph. However, it wasn’t enough to get the Magic the win, who lost to Detroit by 113-109.

Banchero became only the second teenager in NBA history to score 20-point, 5-rebound, and 5-assist in his debut, joining LeBron James. He also had the second most points scored by a No.1 overall pick in their debut, trailing only behind Allen Iverson’s 30 points.

"It means a lot, I guess. Obviously, would have liked to win. But I just wanted to play hard, and play for the team and that happened. So, it's a blessing," Banchero told reporters after hs debut.

Banchero’s next game is against the Atlanta Hawks, where the former Duke Blue Devil will look to replicate his historic performance.