As one of the many one-and-dones to filter through Duke in recent years, Paolo Banchero had a limited time around the Blue Devils. But that doesn’t mean there was any shortage of memories.
In just his lone season — starting in late 2021 and ending in the 2022 Final Four — Banchero saw and did plenty. But his first big-time game for Duke, against Kentucky in the 2021 Champions Classic, stands out as he looks back now.
“I mean, I got endless memories, bro,” Banchero said on The Brotherhood podcast. “Either when I first got here, first game, I was just talking about earlier today, that first game against Kentucky, that was my first time ever playing on national television. It was my first time playing in an NBA arena. It was my first time for everything in my basketball life and I remember just being so nervous for that game.”
The nerves got to Banchero to the point he was not making any of his shots in warmups. But once the game actually got going, Banchero ended up being fine, as were the Blue Devils in a 79-71 win.
“I just remember knowing that my whole family, all my friends back home was watching,” Banchero said. “I just remember running out from the tunnel and seeing the crowd, seeing how lit it was and just having this pit in my stomach like, the whole warm ups I was bricking. Couldn’t make a shot in warmups because I was that nervous. And so at warmups, you know, warmups you’re just getting right, getting a feel. And I remember missing like every shot and being like, ‘Yo, ain’t no way I’m going to come out in this game and miss every shot.’ And so I think I got all the nerves out in warmups and then I made my first shot in the game and I was like, ‘Alright, I’m good now.'”
Banchero ended up being one of the best players on the floor that night, finishing with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 8-of-9 on free throws. He also pulled down seven boards and looked the part of a top prospect. It was the kick off event for a star-turned college campaign for Banchero and that Duke squad, which made a run to the Final Four in the final season for head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
And as the nerves gave way, Banchero made one of many memories that he carries with him from his time in Durham.
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