Banchero, 19, played at Duke University, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 39 starts.
The striker seemed to shine under the intense pressure of the draft, dressing in a purple suit and struggling to contain his excitement.
“This isn’t even a dream. I feel like this is a fantasy. I dreamed of being in the NBA, but being the No. 1 overall pick, that’s crazy,” Banchero told reporters as he sat in the next to his mother.
“I don’t even know what to say. I can’t believe what just happened, honestly. I wanted to be in the NBA, but I didn’t know I would be here.”
Banchero says he plans to bring “everything” he has to the Orlando Magic, who fought last season with a 22-60 record.
“First, just a winning mentality, a working mentality first,” he added. “I’m ready to go in with the boys and get to work. This is one of the best moments of my life. I’m super excited.”
Fashion and healthy moments
Chet Holmgren was the second overall pick in the draft, heading to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The big man, over six feet and nine inches, said he wanted to use his natural attributes to help his new team.
“I can use my length and my speed to cover a lot of ground and take up space,” he told reporters.
However, the Thunder’s upcoming practice could be a bit confusing, as the franchise also chose Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams (unrelated) to the same project.
He had a lot of fun at the draft that took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Players were not shy with their wardrobe choices with a wide variety of outfits covering the entire spectrum of fashion on display.
There was also an emotional moment when Jaden Ivey was overwhelmed with excitement after being picked fifth overall by the Detroit Pistons.
She becomes the last member of her family to be selected for professional basketball with her mother, Notre Dame women’s head coach Niele Ivey, after previously playing in the WNBA’s Detroit Shock.
“That’s all man, I’ve worked day in and day out just to get to that level and I know I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her and I’m so happy, I’m so happy,” Jalen said of his selection.
Niele, on the other hand, barely had words at the moment: “I’m almost speechless, you know, this is your dream come true, being in Detroit, we have so many amazing roots in Detroit, you know you can be “walking around this stage so I’m so happy, so happy for him, so I’m just taking it all in, absorbing it all.”