Banchero chose the United States. The Magic big man, as reported by the reliable NBA insider Shams Charania di The Athletic, he would have refused Pozzecco’s Italbasket to represent Team USA at the next ones Basketball World Cup expected at the end of August.
BANCHERO AND ITALBASKET: A TEENAGE LOVE
An understandable decision from many points of view: Paolo Banchero of Italian has only the name and surname. He doesn’t speak the language and has only seen Italy once a few days ago. Yet he obtained an Italian passport due to the paternal lineage and was very close to debuting with the blue tank top in 2020. In fact, Banchero was kept under observation by the scouts of the national team as early as 2018 when he was still playing at the club Lyceum. Italy’s interest prompted him to start the paperwork to obtain the documents, which happened precisely in 2020. In October of the same year, Banchero was about to board the plane that would have brought him to Italy to make his debut and become forever a member of the Azzurri, but fate intervened: a family member of his was found positive for Covid a few hours before departure, forcing Paolo to postpone the debut. A debut that would never come.
THE CHARM WITH STARS AND STRIPES
Meanwhile the product of Duke he’s come a long way. Absolute first choice in the 2022 Draft with the Orlando Magic and prize of Rookie of the year. An exponential growth in and out of the field that pushed him staff part team USA to woo Banchero, going to compete with Italbasket. After months and months of proclamations, meetings and travels, Banchero finally chose the United States.
“PAUL, TAKE OFF THAT FLAG”
The disappointment of the Azzurri fans is more than understandable. There Banker’s staror he would certainly have given a different imprint to Italbasket, giving it that plus it lacked to compete with all the other great national teams, but perhaps they were words and gestures that most hurt the hearts of Italians. Before the interest of the USA team, the 5 of the Magic had always taken his debut with Italy practically for granteda di Pozzecco, complete with official statements on the matter. The worst thing for the fans, however, remains the tricolor flag of Italy on the official profile Instagram of the basketball player. A shower of identical comments studded Banchero’s last post:
“Paul, take that flag down”
(Credits: Getty Images)
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2023-06-26 04:01:31
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