With clock ticking, doubts arise about Paolo Banchero's commitment to Italy / News - Basketnews.com

In recent weeks Paolo Banchero looked uncertain about his decision to play for the Italian national team. The Orlando Magic rookie has been courted by Team USA since his arrival at Duke, and now his future at the International level looks indecisive.

Credit: USA TODAY Sports-Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports-Scanpix

After being selected with the first overall pick in the NBA draft, Paolo Banchero left little doubt about his level of play.

In his recently completed rookie season with the Orlando Magic, the power forward finished the campaign averaging 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.

During the season, he collected 14 double-doubles and 6 games with 30 or more points. The Duke product finished the campaign with 40 games in which he scored at least 20 points, the same number LeBron James had in his rookie season.

Today, Banchero is the number one candidate to win the Rookie of the Year award. The Orlando Magic rookie proved that the expectations there were on him were absolutely deserved and that he has a bright future ahead of him.

Now that the Magic's season has officially ended, a question arises about what Paolo Banchero's future might be at the FIBA basketball level.

As many already know, Banchero was born and raised in the United States. Still, as of 2020, he also has an Italian passport, which would allow him to be eligible to play for the Italian national team.

Paolo BancheroCredit AFP-Scanpix

As is easily guessed from his name, Banchero has Italian ancestry on his father's side. Paolo's great-great-grandfather was Italian and later moved to the United States for work, later starting a family.

When Banchero was still a high-school prospect, the Italian federation, and specifically national team general manager Salvatore Trainotti and assistant coach Rick Fois, began to show interest in Banchero and initiated contacts with the player's family.

When the player received his passport in the summer of 2020, the Italian federation had already outlined a clear plan for Banchero. Basically, the idea was to follow the same path that had been taken with Nico Mannion.

The current Virtus Bologna player made his debut with the senior Italian national team when he was only 16 years old. In this way, FIBA recognized him as a fully Italian player, not one with naturalized status.

Since the pre-Olympic tournament in which Italy was supposed to participate in trying to obtain a pass for the Olympics had been postponed to the following year because of Covid, the first good opportunity to call Banchero to the national team was the FIBA November 2020 window.

However, by then, Banchero had already turned 18, so he became a naturalized player in FIBA competitions.

However, despite this glitch, Italy decided to call Banchero up for the Tallinn window.

Unfortunately, shortly before the departure for Italy, a relative of Banchero experienced flu-like symptoms. Since there was still an emergency situation due to Covid, the national team staff preferred not to have the player travel, who remained in the United States.

Even though Banchero was already a highly regarded prospect in the United States, Team USA seemed to have little interest in the current Magic player. In fact, Banchero had been discarded by some U.S. youth selections and had never played an official tournament with the USA.

Later, with Banchero's arrival at Duke, one of the top universities in the country, attention on him began to rise more and more, and Team USA also began to hold the player in higher regard.

Banchero played at Duke in the final Mike Krzyzewski year, who was also Team USA's head coach for several years. In addition, Grant Hill, the managing director of Team USA, is a Duke alumnus.

Paolo BancheroCredit AP-Scanpix

The former NBA star began recruiting Banchero as early as his year at Duke and later upon his arrival in the NBA.

Early in his NBA debut season, Banchero, at least publicly, had continued to show his intention to play for the Italian national team when there was an opportunity.

On June 24 last year, just before the draft, he said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport:

"The support I have received so far from Italy has been fantastic. This summer, I won't be able to play with the national team, but next summer, I will be there".

In late October, Banchero visited his then-teammate RJ Hampton's podcast, emphasizing his choice of the Italian national team quite sharply:

"Team USA? No, I'm with Italy now."

In December, Banchero met with the higher ranks of the Italian federation and head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco.

Even though the meeting was positive, the player asked for more time before making a final decision about his commitment to the Italian team.

However, since that meeting, the tone from the Italian Federation and Banchero has changed, becoming much more doubtful.

In February, during an official event, Pozzecco said, "Banchero? There is no news. We did what we could; now we await his answer."

Last week, in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Gianni Petrucci, the president of the Italian basketball federation, sounded skeptical too.

"I can say neither yes nor no. There is hope, but I am unable to promise anything," he claimed.

Banchero, who recently spoke to the Knuckleheads podcast, also expressed doubts about his final decision.

"Everyone asks me the question about the national team, but I haven't decided yet," Banchero revealed. "Italy came forward when I was discarded by Team USA in high school. I had the passport opportunity, and I took it, and they helped me. Probably without Covid, I would have made my debut in the Olympics, but in the meanwhile, many things happened, and now the situation is different."

The words used by Banchero in that podcast sounded like a clear-cut U-turn compared to the previous events.

During the training camp with the Magic, Banchero had posed with the Italian flag in an official picture for the team. He also showed his Italian passport in a commercial he made for a brand.

In a way, this type of outcome was predictable. Banchero was the no.1 pick in the draft, and his performances drew a lot of attention to him. He's not in high school anymore.

Now he's an NBA player and a potential star moving forward.

Team USA is starting to build its next cycle, and securing some of the best young talents in the league, like Banchero, is a must for them. The current NBA superstars like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Steph Curry won't be around forever.

Kevin Durant Paolo BancheroCredit USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

Especially looking at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, a new wave of young players will have to be involved. Banchero was born and raised in the U.S., so the fact that he hasn't completely closed the door on the idea of playing for Team USA makes sense.

Even from a commercial standpoint, playing for Team USA would also mean bigger endorsement deals for Banchero, who's already a Jordan athlete.

Italy did an excellent job moving on Banchero when he was still a high schooler, and Team USA wasn't paying enough attention to him. Most likely, he would have already played for the Azzurri if not the Covid.

Now, with all the attention surrounding Banchero, the situation looks more complicated for Italy. The Orlando Magic forward is still only 20 years old, so he's only right in taking all the time necessary before making a decision that will impact his future in a relevant way.

The choice is not the simplest. Playing for Team USA would be a natural fit for Banchero, and players like Bam Adebayo and Jaren Jackson Jr. could represent the future of the American frontcourt.

However, regardless of how much he may continue his growth in the future, it is difficult to imagine that Banchero will ever become the absolute star of Team USA. In that type of context, he risks being one of many.

On the other hand, choosing to play for Italy probably wouldn't give Banchero the same exposure from a media and commercial point of view, simply because basketball in Italy is and always will be a secondary sport.

From a technical point of view, Banchero, with the Italian national team, would be a central player capable of changing the team's fortunes for at least the next ten years.

In due proportion, Banchero could have the same impact on Italy that Antetokounmpo had on Greece.

Of course, Antetokounmpo was born and raised in Greece, while Banchero has a relationship still to be developed with Italy. Still, there is little doubt that Banchero is a player capable of changing the fortunes of the Italian national team.

Choosing Italy would guarantee Banchero a certain uniqueness which could also help him stand out in the NBA market.

If until recently it seemed that seeing Banchero in the Italy blue shirt was only a matter of time, now the situation seems to have changed.

For a 20-year-old to doubt what his future will be at an international level is only normal.

But the decision is now up to him alone. Which road will the Magic rookie choose? The safer one or, the less traveled one?

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