Duke basketball: Michael Jordan adds another Blue Devil to loaded roster
Michael Jordan is adding another Duke basketball player to his loaded roster.
Michael Jordan may be a North Carolina Tar Heel but he has an affixation for former Duke basketball standouts.
Jordan inked another Blue Devil to a deal on Thursday afternoon as Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, agreed to become the next star athlete at Jordan Brand.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania was the first to report the signing but the terms of the agreement have not yet been released.
Orlando Magic No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero is finalizing an endorsement deal with Jordan Brand, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 28, 2022
Jordan has now inked three of the biggest recent stars to come out of Durham in Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, and Banchero to be the faces of its brand.
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Michael Jordan also spent a first round draft pick this summer on Duke center Mark Williams, the No. 15 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets.
Williamson and Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks superstar, recently completed a trip to Paris with Jordan Brand promoting their new shoe deals, while Tatum shined throughout the NBA season but ultimately fell short in the NBA Finals.
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Paolo Banchero averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in his only season in Durham as he was named as the ACC Rookie of the Year and a consensus Second Team All-American.
The 6-foot-10 forward also proved that he was ready for the NBA in his short time during the Las Vegas Summer League after posting 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per contest in two games for the Orlando Magic.
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Banchero has been putting in work with fellow NBA stars in preparation for his first training camp as the former Blue Devil was in New York working out with Utah Jazz three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell last week.
None of the other four Duke draftees, AJ Griffin, Mark Williams, Wendell Moore, or Trevor Keels, have signed a major shoe brand deal prior to their rookie seasons.
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