It’s uncommon for an NBA rookie to get an automated spot within the Workforce USA roster however reigning primary decide Paolo Banchero isn’t any extraordinary rookie.

Though USA head coach Steve Kerr is but to determine his beginning 5, Magic’s Rookie of the Yr Banchero has actually caught Kerr’s consideration.

Coach Kerr thinks Banchero might play a job that may give their FIBA opponents a headache, as it’s historically one they battle to protect.

“He’s going to play some 5,” Kerr mentioned after the staff’s 117-74 warmup win towards Puerto Rico. “One of many issues we actually present in [2021] within the Tokyo Olympics was having a 5 who can push the ball and transition and create performs may be very tough for FIBA groups to deal with.

“So he can play some 4, as he confirmed, however he’ll play loads of 5 as nicely.”

Within the 2021 Olympics, Bam Adebayo and Draymond Inexperienced shared the middle place and though Banchero doesn’t have the identical measurement as these two, he’s a much bigger ahead and is actually in a position to create alternatives in offense.

If Paolo thrives in his function as a small-ball middle through the FIBA Basketball World Cup, will probably be attention-grabbing to see if it interprets to his function or model of play when he returns to Orlando for the 2023-24 NBA season.

In the course of the pleasant recreation towards Puerto Rico in Las Vegas on Monday, Banchero noticed 16 minutes of motion off the bench and was in a position to notch 7 factors whereas spending a while at middle.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup will start on August 25 and can happen in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.

READ MORE: Paolo Banchero Blasted by Italian Basketball For USA Dedication

USA Group Play Schedule

Aug 26: United States vs. New Zealand (8:40 a.m. ET)

Aug 28: Greece vs. United States (8:40 a.m. ET)

Aug 30: United States vs. Jordan (4:40 a.m. ET)