DeMarcus Cousins Gives Paolo Banchero The Absolute Praise

Cousins believes Banchero can win multiple MVP awards in his career

When pundits discuss the possible candidates for the Most Valuable Player award, names such as Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are often mentioned. However, considering the NBA’s huge amount of young talent, the conversations could take a turn soon.

On a recent episode of FanDuel TV’s Run It Back podcast, DeMarcus Cousins said Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has the chance to win numerous MVP awards.

“He’s [Banchero] a young kid, full of talent. Obviously going to be a star in this league, I think the MVP level type of star, multiple MVP level type of star.” - DeMarcus Cousins

Despite missing 34 games this season due to a torn oblique, Banchero had a tremendous year. He averaged a career-high 25.9 points, a career-high 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.

He had plenty of great performances, but his best one happened in the Magic’s fourth game of the season. On Oct. 28, he scored a career-high 50 points against the Indiana Pacers, becoming just the fourth player in Magic history to record 50-plus points in a game.

Banchero’s star potential was always there

Before his time in the NBA, Banchero spent one year at Duke University. While there, he averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals. At the end of the year, he made the ACC All-Freshman Team and First-team All-ACC while being named the ACC Rookie of the Year.

The Magic selected Banchero as the first overall pick, and from there, his career took off. In his first season, he averaged a team-high 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. At the end of the season, he made the NBA All-Rookie First Team while winning the Rookie of the Year award.

Banchero's 2023-24 campaign was unforgettable.

That season, he averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and a career-high 5.4 assists. He had many great games, but his most memorable happened on Jan. 5. During a victory over the Denver Nuggets, he recorded 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, giving him his first of two career triple-doubles. His efforts helped him earn his first All-Star selection as a reserve.

In just three years in the NBA, Banchero has already started to compile an impressive portfolio. In addition to the statistics and personal achievements, he also helped the Magic make two postseason appearances. If he can continue performing at this level, there’s a chance he could collect mulitple MVP awards.

Cory Nelson is a contributor to The Lead. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson, Instagram @ckenzynelson, and Threads @ckenzynelson