Ah well, it’s funny the chance, and it would be even funnier if the in-between was given by Victor Wembanyama. Paolo Banchero vs Cade Cunningham therefore, at 1am in Detroit, and the clash between the last two n°1 of the Draft. Is that enough to make us watch a Pistons vs. Magic in the middle of October? Oh yes, among other reasons.
He wasn’t sure he was first pick but he was anyway. Landed therefore near Orlando, Paolo Banchero immediately found a bunch of keys in his name, the kind that open absolutely all the doors of the room. Yes, Paolo Banchero has never played a game in the NBA but he is already considered by many as the boss of the Florida franchise. The best way to restore this confidence to his new bosses? Brew one from the start at the Pistons, and what better match-up besides than to find yourself facing the crack of the N-1 season, Cade Cunningham, himself boss of another franchise in full development. The former leader of Duke will therefore have the opportunity to gauge himself and judge the road he has to go before becoming a player who matters, Cade is today related to a guy bordering All-Star, all in a room which could see a large part of the organization chart of the Ministry of Youth and Sports settling in this night.
Indeed, in addition to Paolo Banchero and Cade Cunningham, it is a veritable conglomeration of U23 players that we will see at work at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, Killian Hayes, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart on the Pistons side, Cole Anthony, Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., Bol Bol, RJ Hampton, Caleb Houstan, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner for the Magic, in short a bunch of kids alongside whom Terrence Ross and other Cory Joseph should feel very old tonight. In short, a first game that looks like a university All-Star Game, with the last two first picks at the top of the bill and a Papa Banchero who will have the best of theaters to strike a first big blow.
It may not be the game that will offer the most successful basketball, but this Magic is clearly one of the clickable posters during this first big night of the season. So who will have the biggest between Paolo Banchero and Cade Cunningham? We are of course talking about envy, coquinous.