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Even before they step on an NBA court, Panini has the hottest young prospects locked up to their own exclusive card deal. For the Class of 2022, the card company has set its sights on the Duke Blue Devils’ top guy – Paolo Banchero.
5-star @DukeMBB freshman phenom and projected 2022 No. 1 NBA draft pick. Paolo Banchero (@Pp_doesit) has agreed to an exclusive multi-year NIL deal with @PaniniAmerica for trading cards—the first of its kind for any basketball player with the company.https://t.co/QrCiiymCeX
— Boardroom (@boardroom) September 28, 2021
In a report by Boardroom, Panini stated that they have signed Banchero to an exclusive multi-year Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) trading card deal. In essence, a NIL agreement gives athletes the right to earn compensation for the use of their name and physical features. Banchero’s contract with Panini makes him the first college basketball player ever to obtain this kind of deal for the card company.
What makes this deal more impressive is that Banchero hasn’t even played a single game for the Blue Devils. In fact, that moment will happen in November this year when Duke matches up against the Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden.
Even before his first game as a Blue Devil, Banchero has been making waves as a high-school phenom. The five-star recruit is seen as the number one power forward and the second-best player in the nation, as mentioned in a report by 247Sports. The Italian-American is also the first college player to be included in a licensed professional sports game when he was signed to a NIL deal with NBA2K.
Paolo Banchero, a projected top pick for the 2022 NBA Draft, will soon be seen conquering collegiate basketball in a few weeks for Duke. He is also expected to embark on a one-and-done campaign, in preparation for his campaign to go pro.
With Banchero inking this special deal with Panini, the floodgates for college athletes to make their mark on the world through NIL deals have burst open. Be on the lookout for Panini’s upcoming sets that feature this college star soon.
