Paolo Banchero explains why he chose Team USA instead of Italy / News - Basketnews.com

Banchero told that his mother's previous experience as a Team USA basketball player and a conversation he had with Mike Krzyzewski played a big part in his decision to ultimately represent the US instead of Italy.

Credit: Willie J. Allen Jr/Orlando Sentinel via ZUMA Press Wire - Scanpix Credit Willie J. Allen Jr/Orlando Sentinel via ZUMA Press Wire - Scanpix

Although he was first associated with the Italian national team, Paolo Banchero ultimately chose to represent Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and beyond.

Paolo Banchero

Position:PFAge:20Height:208 cmWeight:113 kgBirth place:United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Before this summer, Banchero had never even visited Italy before but was always viewed as the federation's top choice for a recruit. Banchero was born in Seattle to an American mother and an Italian father.

His mother's past as a professional basketball player both in the WNBA and the US Women's National Team in the 1990s played the biggest part in his choice of representing the country where he was born.

"That USA team photo was hung up in the basement, and my room was in the basement. I saw that every single day. That was literally one of my biggest dreams as a kid, to play for the USA," Banchero told Tim Reynolds from Associated Press.

Banchero seriously considered representing Italy as a teenager. Although he had a chance to compete for a spot in Team USA's lineups, he never qualified for a final roster spot. The Italian Federation contacted him, offering then-17-year-old Banchero a chance to play for Italy.

"I was 17 when they asked and that was a time in my life where I felt like I couldn’t pass up on that opportunity because my dad’s side of the family is Italian. And I didn’t know much about my Italian heritage. So, I felt like that was the perfect way to get to know more and become closer with my Italian heritage, which I have since then," the player said.

"But COVID kind of took that opportunity for me to play away, and that makes me think all the time about how different my life would have been if COVID never happened," he shared. "But I wasn’t able to play, went to Duke, had a great year, went No. 1 in the draft and, you know, circumstances change."

His experience at Duke with former Team USA head coach and NCAA legend Mike Krzyzewski played a big part as well. Coach K, as he's widely known, asked him one time whether he intended to represent Italy. When Banchero answered that he did, Krzyzewski asked him to reconsider, recalling Kyrie Irving's experience when he chose between Australia and USA.

"All of those factors kind of played into the decision," Banchero said. "They were in my mind when I really sat down to think about this."

The Italian Federation slammed the player after the choice was made official, sparking a controversy.

Despite his decision to play for Team USA, Banchero visited Italy this summer for the first time in his life and encouraged his dad, who has never visited Italy, to do the same, and regularly.

"You know how you kind of go somewhere and get like butterflies in your stomach because of the feelings you get? It was like that for me, no exaggeration. I was so proud that I got to do that," he said.

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