The power forward of Italian extraction Paolo Banchero, gave the bell at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn by becoming the first choice of the 2022 NBA Draft, after being taken by the Orlando Magic, while the also interns Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr., finished as the second and third picks, respectively.
Banchero, 19 years old, was called in the previous one to be taken between the third and fifth position; however, his remarkable one season at Duke University where he averaged 17.2 points, with 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks, convinced the Florida franchise.
Paolo Banchero (@Pp_doesit) gets selected No. 1 overall by the @OrlandoMagic in the 2022 #NBADraft presented by State Farm! pic.twitter.com/6kdG4NJgAx
— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2022
For its part, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Holmgren, a center with 20 almanacs and 2.13 tall who averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game at Gonzaga University.
Similarly, the Houston Rockets took Smith Jr., a 19-year intern who averaged 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds at Auburn University. The idea of the Texans is that their new addition takes over from Christian Wood, the franchise’s leader in points and rebounds in the last two seasons, but who was sent days ago to the Dallas Mavericks.
With the 2nd pick of the 2022 #NBADraft the @okcthunder select @ChetHolmgren‼️
Check out Chet in his #JrNBA days ???? pic.twitter.com/B1WhsxFkIM
— Jr. NBA (@jrnba) June 24, 2022
The fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft fell to the Sacramento Kings, who chose forward Keegan Murray, from Iowa, and who, unlike his three predecessors, played two years in college basketball.
Meanwhile, the first baseman drawn in the aforementioned lottery turned out to be Jaden Ivey, who will don a Detroit Pistons uniform. The former Purdue shines for his athleticism and scoring ability.
Jabari Smith Jr. (@jabarismithjr) is selected No. 3 overall by the @HoustonRockets in the 2022 #NBADraft presented by State Farm! pic.twitter.com/n7wGn8LxRT
— NBA (@NBA) June 24, 2022
Here are the top 10 picks in the 2022 NBA Draft:
1. Paolo Banchero (Duke), Orlando Magic.
2. Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga), Oklahoma City Thunder.
3. Jabari Smith Jr. (Auburn), Houston Rockets.
4. Keegan Murray (Iowa), Sacramento Kings.
5. Jaden Ivey (Purdue), Detroit Pistons.
6. Benedict Mathurin (Arizona), Indiana Pacers.
7. Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky), Portland Trail Blazers.
8. Dyson Daniels (G-League Ignite), New Orleans Pelicans.
9. Jeremy Sochan (Baylor), San Antonio Spurs.
10. Johnny Davis (Wisconsin), Washington Wizards.
