Above: Photo illustration courtesy OrlandoMagic.com.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
ORLANDO, Fla. -- In a last-minute twist, the Orlando Magic took Duke's Paolo Banchero No. 1 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr., who was the consensus No. 1 pick in most mock drafts, was taken third overall by the Houston Rockets.
As expected, Chet Holmgren, a lanky 7-footer from Gonzaga, was selected second overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Banchero, a 6-foot-10 forward from Duke, averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 39 games for the Blue Devils, who reached the Final Four before losing to North Carolina, seemed surprised when his name was called y NBAS Commissioner Adfam Silver.
“I can’t believe what just happened,” Banchero said moments after being selected. “I never would have thought that this would happen. I wanted to be in the NBA, but I didn’t know I would be here. I really honestly, didn’t. This is unbelievable. I can’t speak right now.”
Orlando Magic execs were thrilled with their pick.
"This is a nineteen-year-old who has so much growth potential. We feel like he was the best player in college basketball," said Jeff Weltman, Magic President of Basketball Operations. "And we feel like he will continue to grow for many years to come. He's a hard worker, he's incredibly talented, and we're just thrilled to add him to our team."
Banchero becomes the fourth first overall pick in franchise history.
The first overall No. 1 pick was in 1992 when future Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal was selected. The Magic had the No. 1 overall pick again in 1993 and drafted Chris Webber out of Michigan.
The first overall No. 1 pick was in 1992 when future Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal was selected. The Magic had the No. 1 overall pick again in 1993 and drafted Chris Webber out of Michigan.
On draft night 1993, Orlando traded Webber to the Golden State Warriors for their first-round pick, (No. 3 overall) Penny Hardaway, and three of Golden State's future first-round draft selections. Two years later, the Magic became a 50-win club and made their first finals appearance. Orlando was swept by the Houston Rockets who were led by Akeen Olajuan for their second consecutive NBA championship.
In 2004, the Magic had the first overall pick for the third time and drafted Dwight Howard out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in Atlanta. Five years later, Howard led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA finals. The Magic lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
The Magic are pinning their hopes on returning to the NBA finals with Banchero, leading a squad that includes half a dozen lottery selections from trades or first-round selections of their own, including Markelle Fultz (first overall - 2017), Jalen Suggs (fifth overall - 2021), Jonathan Isaac (sixth overall - 2017), Mo Bamba (sixth overall – 2018), Wendell Carter Jr. (seventh overall - 2018), and Franz Wagner (eighth overall - 2021) to go along with other potential stars such as Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, and Chuma Okeke.
Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley sees nothing but upside with the versatile Big in Banchero being deployed with any combination of these other players.
"It's beyond exciting," Mosley said of adding Banchero to the roster. "That's the one thing we've constantly talked about is the versatility and the ability to play both sides of the ball. Guard multiple positions. He'll also be a great playmaker, decision-maker, and he's a giver and a distributor. That's going to be a great addition to our team."
welcome to the O @Pp_doesit 🪄@SociosUSA x #MagicDraft pic.twitter.com/wn8WkC8AtW
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) June 24, 2022
RECAP: 2022 NBA Draft 1st-Round Selections (& Trades): 1. Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero, PF, Duke; 2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren, PF/C, Gonzaga; 3. Houston Rockets: Jabari Smith, PF, Auburn; 4. Sacramento Kings: Keegan Murray, PF, Iowa; 5. Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey, PG/SG, Purdue; 6. Indiana Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin, SG/SF, Arizona; 7. Portland Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe, SG, Kentucky; 8. New Orleans Pelicans (via Lakers): Dyson Daniels, PG/SG, G League Ignite; 9. San Antonio Spurs: Jeremy Sochan, PF, Baylor; 10. Washington Wizards: Johnny Davis, SG, Wisconsin; 11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Knicks): Ousmane Dieng, SG/SF, New Zealand Breakers; 12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Jalen Williams, PG/SG, Santa Clara; 13. Detroit Pistons (via Hornets): Jalen Duren, C, Memphis; 14. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ochai Agbaji, SG/SF, Kansas; 15. Charlotte Hornets (via Pelicans): Mark Williams, C, Duke; 16. Atlanta Hawks: AJ Griffin, SF, Duke; 17. Houston Rockets (via Nets): Tari Eason, PF, LSU; 18. Chicago Bulls: Dalen Terry, PG/SG, Arizona; 19. Memphis Grizzlies (via Timberwolves): Jake LaRavia, PF, Wake Forest; 20. San Antonio Spurs (via Raptors): Malaki Branham, SG, Ohio State; 21. Denver Nuggets: Christian Braun, SG/SF, Kansas; 22. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Jazz via Grizzlies): Walker Kessler, C, Auburn; 23. Memphis Grizzlies (via 76ers): David Roddy, SF/PF, Colorado State; 24. Milwaukee Bucks: MarJon Beauchamp, SF, G League Ignite; 25. San Antonio Spurs (via Celtics): Blake Wesley, SG, Notre Dame; 26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Mavericks via Rockets): Wendell Moore, SG, Duke; 27. Miami Heat: Nikola Jovic, SF, Mega; 28. Golden State Warriors: Patrick Baldwin Jr., PF, Milwaukee; 29. Houston Rockets (via Grizzlies): TyTy Washington Jr., PG, Kentucky; 30. Denver Nuggets (via Thunder): Peyton Watson, SF, UCLA 31. Indiana Pacers (from Rockets via Cavaliers): Andrew Nembhard, PG, Gonzaga; 32. Orlando Magic: Caleb Houston, SF, Michigan; 33. Toronto Raptors (from Pistons via Spurs): Christian Koloko, C, Arizona; 34. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jaylin Williams, PF, Arkansas; 35. Los Angeles Lakers (from Magic via Pacers): Max Christie, SG/SF, Michigan State; 36. Detroit Pistons (via Trail Blazers): Gabriele Procida, SG/SF, Fortitudo Bologna.
For more on the 2022 NBA Draft, please go to NBA.com.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.