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Paolo Banchero on In-Season Tournament: ‘I’m going hard’

Griffin Crest / NBA / November 15, 2023

Paolo Banchero NBA — (Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)

Paolo Banchero on In-Season Tournament: ‘I’m going hard’

With $500,000 on the line for the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero is not looking to mess around. Banchero has his eyes on the prize this tournament, and he’s looking to go harder.

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Earlier this season, the NBA introduced their newest event to the NBA season: The In-Season tournament. The tournament features six randomly drawn groups of five–three in each conference. Each team plays four games in a round-robin style format based on a win-loss record, then knockout rounds will feature eight teams, six of them coming from the group winners and two “wild cards.”

On top of winning the first-ever NBA Cup, each member of the winning team receives $500,000.

“It has some meaning, I think,” Banchero said, according to Sports Illustrated’s Jonah Morgan. “Shoot, $500,000 is on the line. I don’t know about you, but I’m going hard. … The intensity is elevated naturally just from the court (and) the uniforms. I’m sure the crowd’s gonna be … a little more into it. And then for us, it being our first tournament game, you’ve … seen it on TV and whatnot, so you want to be a part of it.”

The Orlando Magic are 5-5 and lost their first tournament game to the Brooklyn Nets Tuesday. Banchero finished his tournament debut playing 35 minutes and scoring 19 points, shooting 6-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from deep. He would go on to grab six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in the 124-104 loss.

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Banchero and the Magic look to continue their In-Season tournament play on Friday. The Magic will have back-to-back dates with the Chicago Bulls Wednesday and followed by their second tournament matchup with Chicago on Friday.

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