WATCH: Paolo Banchero earns young fan for life with special moment after autograph signing
Paolo Banchero is quickly becoming a fan favorite with the Magic, and one young fan made a lifetime memory after receiving his autograph. The NBA shared a special moment captured by their cameras at the Summer League when a fan got his new Banchero jersey signed by the number one pick himself — as the fan couldn’t believe what had just happened.
Paolo Banchero makes kid’s day with autograph signing
While everyone in attendance for Saturday’s game between the Magic and the Kings were treated to a special game, one young fan got a lifetime memory from an interaction with Banchero. The video shows the kid get his jersey back signed and his pure disbelief as he realizes it’s signed. As emotions overcame him while he sat back down, it’s clear that some of the Summer League stars are making waves in the NBA already.
Banchero and Keegan Murray of the Kings were involved in a wild finish to their matchup, resulting in a second overtime sudden-death win by the Magic after late heroics from Banchero.
The Kings trailed by six in the fourth quarter after a pair of free throws were made by the Magic with seven seconds remaining in the game. Neemias Queta hit a huge three point shot with five seconds left on the clock, and the resulting inbound by the Magic was a turnover by Paolo Banchero as the inbounds pass was tipped and fell in front of former Iowa star Keegan Murray. Murray recovered the ball for the steal, dribbled out behind the three-point line and waited as two defenders flew by him for a block attempt.
Murray then drained the game-tying shot, forcing the first overtime. The Kings later had a good opportunity to win the game in the first overtime with a good shot attempt — but the Magic’s Emanuel Terry swatted the shot away and brought the game to the sudden-death finish.
Summer League rules call for a sudden-death finish to be played instead of a normal second overtime, setting up another incredible ending for the game. The Magic won the tip and Banchero had a chance to win the game first — only to throw a bad pass that was intercepted and give possession to the Kings. Sacramento called a timeout to draw up a play and got a great lob pass to the rim for Queta that was blocked from behind by Banchero but then called a foul by the referees.
The Magic challenged the foul call and it was overturned, leading to a game-winning assist from Banchero to Terry as the game ended with a layup and the Magic improving to 2-0 in the Summer League.