The Orlando Magic took Paolo Banchero first in the NBA draft at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Thursday, with Gonzaga’s great Chet Holmgren going to the Oklahoma City Thunder and striker Auburn Jabari Smith heading to the Houston Rockets.
Banchero, who averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 39 starts in his year at Duke, will look to turn a tenuous Magic upside down after his 22-60 season.
“I brought everything I have to Orlando,” Banchero told reporters, dressed in a dazzling purple suit.
“First of all, just a winning mentality, a work mentality first. Ready to get in with the guys and get to work. This is one of the best moments of my life. I’m super excited.”
While night draft clashes are rare, Orlando’s selection surprised many, including Banchero himself, as some experts predicted that shooter Smith would take first place.
“I do not even know what to say. I can’t believe what just happened, honestly, ”said Banchero, 19, who this year helped lead the Blue Devils to the Final Four. “I wanted to be in the NBA, but I didn’t know I would be here.”
Holmgren, a seven-footer, said he would use his size to help the Thunder, who were 24-58 last season. “I can use my length and my speed to cover a lot of ground and take up space,” he told reporters.
Chet Holmgren’s Roof: With his skill at both ends of the floor, Chet Holmgren is arguably the most prized talent in this year’s draft. In fact, compared to some of the NBA’s best greats: Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Karl Anthony Towns, and Jaren Jackson Jr., Holmgren’s freshman stats suggest that maybe he’s already ahead of his teammates in the way to be the best in the game.
Smith said he was looking forward to playing in Houston. “Ultimately, I just want to win championships and be labeled as a winner, always at the bottom of the playoffs, someone always competing for championships,” Smith said. “That’s what I want to be.”
Completing the top five, the Sacramento Kings picked up Iowa striker Keegan Murray and the Detroit Pistons picked up Jaden Ivey of Purdue.
The draft, which began a week after the Golden State Warriors won their fourth NBA title in eight years, featured a large cohort of international talent.
Canadians Bennedict Mathurin and Shaedon Sharpe were selected sixth and seventh by the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers. Australian Dyson Daniels finished eighth with the New Orleans Pelicans, Polish-American Jeremy Sochan finished ninth with the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks selected Frenchman Ousmane Dieng in 11th. Later, Dieng was ceded to the Thunder.
Selections of the first round of the draft of the NBA 2022
1) Paolo Banchero, PF, Orlando Magic
2) Chet Holmgren, C / PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
3) Jabari Smith Jr., PF, Houston Rockets
4) Keegan Murray, PF, Sacramento Kings
5) Ivey Field, SG, Detroit Pistons
6) Bennedict Mathurin, SF, Indiana Pacers
7) Shaedon Sharpe, SG, Portland Trail Blazers
8) Dyson Daniels, PG / SG, New Orleans Pelicans (of the Lakers)
9) Jeremy Sochan, PF, San Antonio Spurs
10) Johnny Davis, SG, Washington Wizards
11) Ousmane Dieng, SF, New York Knicks (changed to Thunder)
12) Jalen Williams, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (by Clippers)
13) Jalen Duren, C, Charlotte Hornets (changed to the Pistons through the Knicks)
14) Ochai Agbaji, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
15) Mark Williams, C, Charlotte Hornets (of Pelicans)
16) AJ Griffin, SF, Atlanta Hawks
17) Tari Eason, PF, Houston Rockets (from Brooklyn)
18) Dalen Terry, SG, Chicago Bulls
19) Jake LaRavia, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves (changed to Grizzlies)
20) Malaki Branham, SG, San Antonio Spurs
21) Christian Braun, SG, Denver Nuggets
22) Walker Kessler, C, Memphis Grizzlies (Jazz, changed to Timberwolves)
23) David Roddy, SF, Philadelphia 76ers (changed to Grizzlies)
24) MarJon Beauchamp, SG, Milwaukee Bucks
25) Blake Wesley, G, San Antonio Spurs (of the Celtics)
26) Wendell Moore, SF, Dallas Mavericks (changed to Timberwolves)
27) Nikola Jovic, SF, Miami Heat
28) Patrick Baldwin Jr., PF, Golden State Warriors
29) TyTy Washington, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
30) Peyton Watson, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (de Suns)