By RayJaun Stelly, The Seattle Medium
NBA superstar Paolo Banchero knows what it means to make history. Whether it’s taking the Duke Blue Devils to the Final Four as a freshman, becoming the number-one overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft, being the first NBA Rookie of The Year from Seattle since Brandon Roy did during the 2006-07 season, or signing a multi-year endorsement deal with Jordan Brand, Banchero seems to make waves wherever he goes. Even with his endless accolades, Banchero’s biggest quality is undoubtedly his desire to give back to the community, particularly the Rotary Boys and Girls Club, the place where he started his basketball career as a youth growing up in Seattle.
Just prior to heading to training camp with Team USA to prepare for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Banchero paid a surprise visit to Rotary Style’s 7th and 8th grade AAU basketball teams. During his visit, Banchero gave each player a pair of his Rotary-dedicated Jordan Luke 1 Player Edition shoes.
Although the shoe was only meant for him and no one else has a pair, Banchero, with former NBA star and fellow Rotary Style alumnus Jamal Crawford in attendance, arrived at the Boys and Girls Club for the team’s practice to present the players with an exclusive pair of his colorway shoes that represent and honor the AAU team he played for growing up. The baby-blue and black colorway, along with Rotary’s logo embedded on the tongue of the player edition shoe, will remain true and exclusive to only Banchero and the kids in the program.
“Rotary played a huge part in helping me learn the game of basketball and making me the player I am today,” said Banchero. “It’s important for me to give back to the next generation and pay respect to the guys who paved the way, shoutout to Jordan Brand for helping make this come to life. This is only the beginning.”
The Rotary Boys and Girls Club, located at 201 19th Ave in Seattle, has produced numerous professional athletes including Banchero, Crawford, Marvin Williams, Tony Wroten, Brandon Roy, Peyton Siva, Terrance Williams, Aaron Brooks, Jaylen Nowell, Jalen, and Jaden McDaniels. But the Boys and Girls Club is more than just a basketball venue; it has a family dynamic that many generations have been a part of, which is why this gesture by Banchero holds great significance.
“It means the world to be able to not only be blessed enough to give back to Rotary, where each of my children gained so much but also to pass that spirit of gratitude and giving on to our children as they become adults in life,” said Paolo’s mother, Rhonda Smith-Banchero. “It’s the ultimate gift to be able to see through your actions you have influenced to give back. As a family giving back is a core principle. We have taught our kids you give your time, various resources, and your heart.”
“I think it’s major what Paolo is doing,” said Rotary Alumnus and Professional Basketball Player Peyton Siva. “For me as [a Rotary] alumnus, it’s truly special to see him give back like that. It’s special not only for the community and city of Seattle but for the kids.
“To see somebody as talented as Paolo who went to Duke University, someone who grew up playing his whole life at Rotary to becoming the number one pick in the NBA and Rookie of The Year, seeing what he’s accomplished is going to give these kids something so much more to strive for,” continued Siva. “No one has ever done that. [He] is the first person that has done a collaboration shoe with Rotary. That’s something that is truly special and that no one can take away from Paolo. It shows how humble he is and how he wants to give back. I am truly happy to see it, I can’t wait to get a pair to really support the brand and him.”
As his sophomore season in the NBA approaches, Banchero and Jordan Brand are already looking at designs for the next Rotary shoe colorway to come out with hopes that it will become a yearly tradition.
