Paolo Banchero is one of the most exciting young talents in the NBA today.
He starred as a forward for the Orlando Magic and earned a five-year rookie max extension from the franchise recently.
After being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft straight out of Duke University, he has continued to develop into a franchise cornerstone.
Off the court, Paolo also grabbed attention for his international basketball decisions, choosing to represent Team USA in the 2023 Basketball World Cup despite eligibility for Italy.
Behind Paolo’s rise to basketball stardom is a family deeply rooted in sports, especially his parents, Rhonda Smith-Banchero and Mario Banchero.
Paolo was born on November 12, 2002, in Seattle, Washington, to Rhonda and Mario.
His family’s athletic pedigree set the stage for his path.
Rhonda Smith-Banchero, his mother, was a standout collegiate player who became the all-time leading scorer at the University of Washington’s women’s basketball program with 2,948 points.
She was later drafted in the third round of the 2000 WNBA Draft and went on to play professionally in the ABL and overseas.
After her playing career, she turned to coaching, including at Holy Names Academy in Seattle, where she influenced young Paolo from a very early age.
Likewise, Mario Banchero, Paolo’s father, also played sports at the University of Washington, competing in college football for the Huskies.
His Italian heritage later helped Paolo obtain Italian citizenship through jus sanguinis in 2020.
Paolo’s parents met as student-athletes at the University of Washington in the 1990s, later marrying and raising three children together.
From the start, Rhonda played a tremendous role in Paolo’s basketball development.
He has often spoken about how she taught him the game, from fundamentals to passion.
As Paolo himself said in interviews, “I wanted to be like her”, highlighting that his mother was both his biggest supporter and toughest critic, pushing him to improve and challenge himself.
In addition to Paolo, the Bancheros have two younger children: a sister, Mia, and a brother, Lio.
Both of the siblings are reported to play football (soccer) at competitive levels during their school years in Washington.
In every phase of his life, from Seattle playgrounds to NCAA arenas to the NBA, Paolo Banchero’s parents have been central figures.
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