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[Saba Sports News] The Orlando Magic aren’t sneaking up on the NBA this season. With Paolo Banchero leading the charge, the team is making the most of a strong start—and Banchero isn’t shy about his roots.
When asked about the best basketball city in North America, he didn’t hesitate: “Seattle,” he said confidently. “I think Seattle is pound-for-pound the best basketball factory in the country.”
Banchero’s pride comes from deep ties to Seattle’s rich NBA legacy. “When you look at just the depth we have in the history, we got years on years,” he explained. “Whether it’s Doug Christie, one of the first OGs, or Jason Terry, Isaiah Thomas, and Jamal Crawford… the list goes on from generation to generation, year by year. I feel like I’m kind of the new generation. Both my mom and dad are from Seattle. It’s in my blood, and I just take it with me wherever I go.”
Since being drafted first overall, Banchero has embraced Orlando, seeing parallels between the Magic and his hometown.
“Definitely similar to Seattle in that way where guys playing here don’t feel like they are maybe as respected as they would like to be on a national scale,” he told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears.
“You got to earn that… me and the rest of the guys set out a goal to earn the respect of our peers. Now it’s time to etch our name as a top contender.”