Paolo Banchero’s Team USA decision irked Italian Basketball Federation: ‘Betrayal’

Paolo Banchero’s decision to play for the United States over Italy has ruffled some feathers.

Banchero, the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Magic, had previously given a verbal commitment to play for Italy in the forthcoming FIBA World Cup in the Philippines this summer, but changed his mind.

Italian Basketball Federation president Gianni Petrucci sounded off about the decision and how it was communicated to him.

“Betrayal is a big word, in sports these things happen and personally I’m used to it. I consider it a joke,” said Petrucci, in a quote translated from Italian to English by Alessandro Luigi Maggi of Sportando. 

Petrucci was not happy that he found out about Banchero’s decision the same way the public did.

“It was a legitimate decision, but he could have made a call to communicate that to us. Instead, we learned about his decision from the newspapers,” Petrucci said, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. “In the past few days, he was in Milan, and despite our agreements with his agency, he avoided the meeting with coach [Gianmarco] Pozzecco.”

The news that Banchero chose to play for the United States over Italy was first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania on Saturday.

The FIBA World Cup kicks off on Aug. 23.

Other players who have reportedly committed to Team USA include Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Brandon Ingram, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Bobby Portis and Austin Reaves.

Banchero averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for the Magic this season, and he started all 72 games he appeared in.

Banchero played in college for one season at Duke.