Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has been named the 2022-23 Rookie of the Year, beating out Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams.
Banchero dominated the voting, picking up 98 of the 100 first-place votes. Williams led the way with 75 second-place votes, while Kessler earned the other two first-place picks and finished No. 3 overall.
The 20-year-old Banchero put together a solid debut campaign over 72 games, averaging 20 points along with 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists while playing 33.8 minutes per contest.
The rising star is the third player in franchise history to win Rookie of the Year and the first since Mike Miller in the 2000-01 campaign. Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal also claimed the award after the 1992-93 season. Banchero is also the fourth player out of Duke to receive the honor, joining Grant Hill (1994-95), Elton Brand (1999-2000), and Kyrie Irving (2011-12).
Only 17 players in NBA history have registered at least 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists as first-years, including Banchero, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Jordan. The only one from that list not to win Rookie of the Year was Kelly Tripucka, who finished runner-up to then-New Jersey Nets big man Buck Williams in 1981-82.
