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The Orlando Magic stunned the NBA world on Thursday by picking Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft. Many speculated the top pick would be Jabari Smith Jr. or Chet Holmgren.
Banchero played one season at Duke before turning pro. He was the 2022 ACC Rookie of the Year and a first-team All-ACC selection.
He averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in his only season with the Blue Devils.
This is the 13th straight year a freshman has been ranked No. 1 overall in the NBA.
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Duke forward Paolo Banchero celebrates during the first half of the team’s game against Arkansas at the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in San Francisco, March 26, 2022.
(TUSEN Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, file)
The last Duke player to be No. 1 overall was Zion Williamson in 2019. Before Williamson, it was Kyrie Irving in 2011.
The Magic have had the No. 1 overall pick on three other occasions – in 2004, 1993 and 1992. The Magic selected Dwight Howard in 2004, Chris Webber in 1993, and Shaquille O’Neal in 1992. Orlando traded Webber to the Golden State Warriors for Penny Hardaway and three future first-round picks.
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Orlando was 22-60 last season and had a 14% chance of getting the No. 1 pick. Orlando had the No. 5 pick last year and selected Jalen Suggs.
The selection stunned NBA fans.
Oklahoma City made Gonzaga’s Holmgren the No. 2 pick.
Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren throws the ball against Georgia State in the second half of an NCAA College Basketball Tournament first round game on March 17, 2022 in Portland, Ore.
(TUSEN Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File)
The 7-foot Holmgren was the 2022 West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game. It is ranked at the top of some fictional drafts.
He will join a young Thunder team with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.
Smith was taken to No. 3 by the Houston Rockets.
He told Yahoo Sports earlier today that he would be “surprised” if he wasn’t selected with the top pick.
“I’d be surprised if I didn’t get picked number 1,” Smith said. “It’s just my competitive nature mixed with my selflessness and my ability to just shoot the ball, defend multiple positions and care about winning.
Auburn forward Jabari Smith (10) shoots a 3-pointer over Vanderbilt guard Jamaine Mann (23) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Feb. 16, 2022, in Auburn , To the.
(TUSEN Photo/Butch Dill, File)
“I don’t care about stats. I feel like I can help any team straight away. But I feel like I’m the first choice.”
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Smith averaged 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in his only year with the Tigers. He was named SEC Freshman of the Year and won the Wayman Tisdale Award for being the nation’s top freshman male basketball player.
The Sacramento Kings selected Keegan Murray at No. 4 and the Detroit Pistons selected Purdue’s Jaden Ivey to round out the top five.
