NBA Player

Paolo Banchero

A powerful forward who bulldozes downhill to the rim.

BNBA Player Athletic Slasher

Scouting Report

Strengths

+Powerful downhill driving and finishing
+Strong frame for absorbing contact
+Mismatch problem against smaller defenders

Weaknesses

–3 on guard and 2 steals — a mismatch, not a stopper
–Best attacking off the dribble, not spotting up

Paolo’s whole game is built on contact. A maxed 5 on twos, 4 power, 4 dunks, and 5 stamina off a 6’10“ frame — he gets a shoulder into a smaller defender and the inside finish is automatic, all game long. The handle’s real too (4), so this isn’t a back-to-the-basket big you can leave alone on the perimeter; he can put it on the deck and bully downhill himself. Round it out with 4 passes and 4 boards and he’s a creator who collapses a defense and finds the open man when help comes.

The card tells you where to point him. He’ll shoot it (4 from three) but he’s not the guy you live-and-die on from deep, and the defensive end is where he gives a little back — a 3 on guard, 2 steals. He’s a mismatch problem, not a stopper. Keep him attacking, not chasing.

In the Zone: Amped Up. His signature dumps a boost into Speed, Stamina, Power, and Jump Height all at once — the exact stuff that already carries his game, cranked. With the jump and power up, contested layups and dunks that usually rim out start dropping, and the stamina bump means he never slows down. Activate it, push the pace, and hunt the rim — settling outside wastes it.

Run him with a knockdown shooter to punish the help his drives draw, plus a real perimeter stopper to cover the 3 on guard. Stephen Curry stretches the floor so Paolo’s downhill lane stays open; pair that with a switchy defender and you’ve patched the one hole on his sheet.