NBA
Magic Select Duke’s Paolo Banchero With No. 1 Pick In 2022 NBA Draft
SALT LAKE CITY – The Orlando Magic selected former Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The 2022 NBA Draft was held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Thursday, June 23.
With the top pick in the draft, the Magic took Banchero, a freshman out of Duke.
BREAKING: With the No. 1 pick in the 2022 @NBADraft, the @OrlandoMagic select @DukeMBB's Paolo Banchero (@Pp_doesit). 🏀
📰: https://t.co/BPuv7quNLN#NBADraft #NBA
📷: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/sCDu3GEYiv— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 24, 2022
Orlando Magic Draft Paolo Banchero
Banchero is a native of Seattle, Washington.
Following a prep career at O’Dea High School, Banchero joined the Blue Devils for the 2021-22 season.
The six-foot-10-inch, 250 lbs. forward averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 33.0 minutes per contest. He shot 47.8 percent from the field, including 33.8 percent on three-pointers.
With the 1st pick of the NBA Draft, the @OrlandoMagic select Paolo Banchero (@Pp_doesit)!
2022 #NBADraft presented by State Farm LIVE on ESPN & ABC!
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 24, 2022
Banchero played in 39 games and helped the Blue Devils to a 32-7 record. Duke earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Cal State Fullerton, Michigan State, Texas Tech, and Arkansas, Duke fell to North Carolina in the Final Four of the tourney.
Banchero finished his freshman campaign with the following accolades:
- Consensus second-team All-American
- ACC Rookie of the Year
- First-team All-ACC
- ACC All-Rookie Team
In April, Banchero announced that he would forgo his final three seasons of collegiate eligibility and declare for the NBA Draft.
Banchero’s mother, Rhonda (Smith), was a third round pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft.
Orlando Magic
Last season, the Magic finished with a 22-60 record. Only the Houston Rockets had a worse record at the close of the 2021-22 season.
welcome to the O @Pp_doesit 🪄@SociosUSA x #MagicDraft pic.twitter.com/wn8WkC8AtW
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) June 24, 2022
In May, Orlando captured the No. 1 overall pick after winning the NBA Draft Lottery over the Rockets, Detroit Pistons, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
How to Watch, Stream, Listen to the 2022 NBA Draft
Television
ESPN
Draft recap on KSL TV‘s SportsBeat at 10 p.m. (MDT).
Streaming
ESPN
Radio
- NBA Draft coverage on KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM).
