Paolo Banchero ready to challenge “big brother” Jayson Tatum as Magic face Celtics
Paolo Banchero isn’t backing down from the challenge of facing his mentor in the NBA playoffs.
The Orlando Magic star will make his playoff debut this Sunday against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics after the Magic secured the seventh seed by beating the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament.
“The best way for me to show my respect is to give him my best effort and go at him as much as I can,” Banchero told reporters ahead of the highly anticipated matchup.
Their relationship goes back to 2020, when then-Duke assistant coach Jon Scheyer connected them after Banchero committed to the Blue Devils—the same program where Tatum had starred years earlier.
What started as casual mentorship has grown into something much deeper.
Banchero has previously called Tatum a “dope big brother,” and their bond has only strengthened since Orlando selected Paolo with the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The similarities between them are striking. Both are versatile forwards with scoring prowess. Both played at Duke. And both signed with Jordan Brand—with Banchero often spotted wearing Tatum’s signature shoes, sometimes in his own custom colorways.
When Banchero was navigating the complicated world of NBA contracts and endorsements as a rookie, guess who he called first? Tatum.
The Celtics star has been generous with advice on everything from choosing an agent to handling sponsorships, not to mention countless basketball tips.
Now they’ll face off on the biggest stage.
The odds heavily favor Boston. Sportsbooks have installed the Celtics as 14-point favorites for Game 1 and give them an overwhelming -8000 chance to win the series.
That’s no surprise given Boston’s dominance this season.
Tatum has put together another stellar campaign, averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. He’s an NBA champion, multi-time All-Star, and likely headed for his fourth straight First Team All-NBA selection.
Banchero’s numbers aren’t far behind though. The 22-year-old posted 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists this season, building on his Rookie of the Year campaign with his first All-Star appearance.
In their seven previous meetings, Tatum holds a slight 4-3 edge and has typically raised his game against his protégé, averaging 29.4 points in those matchups.
Sunday’s playoff opener at TD Garden will write the next chapter in their evolving relationship—one where mutual respect won’t diminish their competitive fire.
