With the stellar presence of the French striker from PSG, Kylian Mbappeand the filmmaker and basketball lover -and fan of the New York Knicks– Spike Leea new edition of the NBA Draft was held, the ceremony where franchises annually choose the players of the future.
Most analysts and forecasts pointed to Jabari Smith (Auburn) being number 1, but The Orlando Magic surprised this Thursday by choosing Paolo Banchero (Duke) in the first position.
In second place, as expected, the Oklahoma City Thunder chose center Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga) and Jabari Smith, who was selected by the Houston Rockets, fell to third place.
Who is Banker?
19 years old, born in Seattle (USA) and with Italian roots, Banchero drew attention in the draw held at the Barclays Center in New York (USA) and that it took place just one week after the Golden State Warriors were proclaimed champions of the 2021-2022 season. But the NBA does not rest and is already looking to the future in search of its new stars.
Banchero is a powerful and athletic forward, lands in the NBA with the always prestigious seal of Duke University and in his only season in college basketball he shone with an average of 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
“I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe what just happened, honestly (…). This is incredible. I can’t speak,” Banchero told the American broadcast as soon as he heard his name.
Banchero took #1. (EFE)
Wearing a striking purple suit, almost as if to pay homage to Prince, Banchero received a congratulatory message from legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, under whose command at Duke he played in the NCAA Final Four this year before the coach retired. Known as Coach K, Krzyzewski praised Banchero as “the most versatile player in the draft.” “You are a winner,” he stated.
Banchero will disembark in a few Magic with a lot of young talent (Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, etc.) but who last season were the worst team in the Eastern Conference (22-60).
Paolo Banchero y su look. (AFP)
That time was no exception as the Magic haven’t qualified for the playoffs in the last two years, they’ve only played in the playoffs twice in the last decade and haven’t gotten past the first round since the 2009-2010 season.
Banchero is the fourth number one for the Magic in their history after Shaquille O’Neal (1992), Chris Webber (1993, but was traded to the Golden State Warriors) and Dwight Howard (2004). In addition, his university, Duke, became the one with the most number ones in the draft by joining Banchero’s name to those of Elton Brand (1999), Kyrie Irving (2011) and Zion Williamson (2019).
Paolo Banchero played one season at Duke University. (AP)
And what is below?
The ambitious process of rebuilding the Oklahoma City Thunder, a franchise that has spent years accumulating draft picks and prospects on the horizon with limited attention to the present, has added a new asset in Chet Holmgren, clearly the most unique and mysterious player in this draft. .
At 6-foot-1, with a wingspan of over 7-foot and weighing less than 200 pounds, Holmgren combines intimidation (3.7 blocks and an average of 9.9 rebounds per game), talent on the inside and on the perimeter ( 14.1 points) and amazing agility despite his size.
For his part, Jabari Smith, who will join the Rockets, is considered the best shooter of this promotion of 2022 and this season he exhibited versatility and scoring appetite, achieving an average of 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game with a fabulous 42 % on success from the triple.
The Top Five of the draft was completed by Keegan Murray (Iowa), who will play for the Sacramento Kings; and Jaden Ivey (Purdue), who will defend the colors of the Detroit Pistons. Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana Pacers, sixth position), Shaedon Sharpe (Portland Trail Blazers, seventh), Dyson Daniels (New Orleans Pelicans, eighth), Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs, ninth) and Johnny Davis (Washington) also appeared in the top ten. Wizards, tenth).
The first move of the night was made by the New York Knicks, who chose Frenchman Ousmane Dieng in eleventh place but automatically traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC was thus left with three players among the top 12 positions in this draft: Chet Holmgren (#2), Ousmane Dieng (#11) y Jalen Williams (#12).
The 30 players selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft
— Player Pick (Position, Last Team) – New NBA Team
1 – Paolo Banchero (Ala-pívot, Duke) – Orlando Magic
Age: 19 years old Height and weight: 2.08m – 113kg Statistics last season: 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists
2 – Chet Holmgren (Beer, Gonzaga) – Oklahoma City Thunder
Age: 20 years old Height and weight: 2.13m – 89kg Statistics last season: 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks
3 – Jabari Smith (Wing-pivot, Auburn University) – Houston Rockets
Age: 19 years old Height and weight: 2.11m – 99.8kg Statistics last season: 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2 assists
4 – Keegan Murray (Wing-Pivot, Iowa) – Sacramento Kings
Age: 21 years old Height and weight: 2.03m – 102kg Statistics last season: 23.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks
5 – Jaden Ivey (Base, Purdue) – Detroit Pistons
Age: 20 years old Height and weight: 1.93m – 88kg Statistics last season: 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists
6 – Benedict Mathurin (guard, Arizona) – Indiana Pacers
7 – Shaedon Sharpe (escolta, Kentucky) – Portland Trail Blazers
8 – Dyson Daniels (alero, Ignite – G League) – New Orleans Pelicans
9 – Jeremy Sochan (forward, Baylor) – San Antonio Spurs
10 – Johnny Davis (escolta, Wisconsin) – Washington Wizards
11 – Ousmane Dieng (wing-pivot, New Zealand Breakers) – New York Knicks (traded to Thunder)
12 – Jalen Williams (alero, Santa Clara) – Oklahoma City Thunder
13 – Jalen Duren (center, Memphis) – Charlotte Hornets (traded to Pistons)
14 – Ochai Agbaji (escolta, Kansas) – Cleveland Cavaliers
15 – Mark Williams (pívot, Duke) – Charlotte Hornets
16 – A.J. Griffin (alero, Duke) – Atlanta Hawks
17 – Tari Eason (alero, LSU) – Houston Rockets
18 – Dalen Terry (forward, Arizona) – Chicago Bulls
19 – Jake Laravia (wiper, Wake Forest) – Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to Grizzlies)
20 – Malachi Branham (Escort, Ohio State) – San Antonio Spurs
21 – Christian Braun (alero, Kansas) – Denver Nuggets
22 – Walker Kessler (pivot, Auburn) – Memphis Grizzlies (traded to Timberwolves)
23 – David Roddy (forward, Colorado State) – Philadelphia 76ers (traded to Memphis)
24 – Marjon Beauchamp (alero, Ignite – G League) – Milwaukee Bucks
25 – Blake Wesley (guard, Notre Dame) – San Antonio Spurs
26 – Wendell Moore (eaves, Duke) – Dallas Mavericks (transferred to Timberwolves)
27 – Nikola Jovic (ala-pivot, Mega Basket) – Miami Heat
28 – Patrick Baldwin Jr. . (Wing-Pivot, Milwaukee) – Golden State Warriors
29 – Tyty Washington Jr. . (base, Kentucky) – Memphis Grizzlies (transferred to Timberwolves)
30 – Peyton Watson (wire, UCLA) – Oklahoma City Thunder (transferred to Nuggets)
Ten last players chosen as number one in the Draft:
2022 – Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)
2021 – Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
2020 – Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
2019 – Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
2018 – DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)
2017 – Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers)
2016 – Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
2015 – Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
2014 – Andrew Wiggins (Cleveland Cavaliers)
2013 – Anthony Bennett (Cleveland Cavaliers)
