The Orlando Magic took Paolo Banchero first in the NBA Draft at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Thursday, with Gonzaga striker Chet Holmgren going to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Auburn striker Jabari Smith heading to the Houston Rockets.
Banchero, who averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 39 starts in one year at Duke, will try to reverse the weak Magic after their 22-60 season.
“I intend to bring everything I have to Orlando,” Banchero told reporters in a stunning purple suit.
“First, just a winning way of thinking, thinking first about work. I’m just 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. “
While night shock drafts are rare, Orlando’s choice surprised many – including Banchero himself – with some experts predicting that sniper Smith would take first place.
“I do not even know what to say. I can’t believe what just happened, to be honest, “said 19-year-old Banchero, who helped bring the Blue Devils to the Final Four this year. “I wanted to be in the NBA, but I didn’t know I was going to be here.”
Holmgren, seven feet tall, said he would use his size to help the Thunder, who were 24-58 last season. “I can use my length and speed to cover a lot of land and take up space,” he told reporters.
Chet Holmgren’s Ceiling Chet Holmgren: With his abilities at both ends of the floor, Chet Holmgren is perhaps the most valuable talent in this year’s draft. In fact, compared to some of the best big men in the NBA — Joel Embide, Anthony Davis, Carl Anthony Towns, and Jaren Jackson Jr. — Holmgren’s freshman statistics suggest he may already be ahead of his peers on the road to be the best in the game
Smith said he looks forward to playing in Houston. “In the end, I just want to win championships and be labeled a winner, always deep in the playoffs, someone is always competing for championships,” Smith said. “That’s what I want to be.”
Finishing the top five, the Sacramento Kings promoted Iowa striker Keegan Murray, and the Detroit Pistons took Jaden Ivey of Purdue.
The draft, which started a week after the Golden State Warriors won its fourth NBA title in eight years, involved a strong group of international talent.
Canadians Benedict Maturin and Shedon Sharp were selected sixth and seventh by the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers. Australian Dyson Daniels finished eighth at the New Orleans Pelicans, Polish American Jeremy Sochan finished ninth at the San Antonio Spurs, and the New York Knicks chose Frenchman Usman Dieng in 11th place. Dieng was later changed to Thunder.
Selections from the first round of the draft for 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) Jaden Ivey, SG, Detroit Pistons
6) Benedict Maturin, SF, Indiana Pacers
7) Shaden Sharp, SG, Portland Trail Blazers
8) Dyson Daniels, PG / SG, New Orleans Pelicans (by 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 Pistons via Knicks)
14) Despair Agbaji, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
15) Mark Williams, C, Charlotte Hornets (by 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 Brown, SG, Denver Nuggets
22) Walker Kessler, Sea, Memphis Grizzlies (from 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 (by Celtics)
26) Wendell Moore, SF, Dallas Mavericks (changed to Timberwolves)
27) Nikola Jovic, SF, Miami Heath
28) Patrick Baldwin Jr., PF, Golden State Warriors
29) Ty Ty Washington, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
30) Peyton Watson, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (by Suns)
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