Paolo Banchero has already made a name for himself on the court. As soon as the number one draft pick laced them up for Summer League and preseason, the world could see the 6’10 hooper was the real deal. After rocking a myriad of Jordan Brand classics including the Air Jordan 36s on the court and Bred 11s in his Media Day photos, Banchero is officially signing on to the burgeoning Jordan Brand roster that includes All-Star players like Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, and Luka Donic.
“The opportunity to be a part of the Jordan family means everything to me,” Banchero says. “I grew up wearing Jordans and to now be a part of his brand is really a dream come true.” Banchero cemented himself as game-changing talent in his one year at Duke University earning conference rookie of the year and becoming a consensus second-team all-American.
The announcement includes a video of Banchero with Howard “H” White, current VP of Jordan Brand Affairs. The film retells the iconic tale of how “H” ended up showing up late to the meeting to pitch Michael Jordan because he and a coworker grabbed a burger at Helvetia’s Tavern in Hillsboro, Oregon just a few minutes away from the Nike campus. Years later, “H” is headed back for lunch but this time with one of the leaders of the next generation of hoopers in tow.
“This Brand represents the possibility of the impossible,” “H” said. “It transcends being about a sport or a person and [transforms] into an ideology of hope, of greatness.”
Banchero knows all about striving for greatness, saying “Growing up as a basketball player, one of my dreams was to sign a shoe deal. To achieve that dream with the Jordan Brand?! There’s nothing better than that.”
