Home » Orlando Magic Select Duke Forward Paolo Banchero No.1 Overall in the NBA Draft

Orlando Magic Select Duke Forward Paolo Banchero No.1 Overall in the NBA Draft

By  //  June 23, 2022

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2022 ACC Rookie of the Year, first-team All-ACC selection

(FOXNEWS.COM) ORLANDO, FLORIDA – The Orlando Magic stunned the NBA world Thursday when they chose Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft. Many speculated the top pick would be either 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.

It’s the 13th straight year a college freshman has been taken No. 1 overall in the NBA.

Duke forward Paolo Banchero celebrates during the first half of the team’s game against Arkansas in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in San Francisco, on March 26, 2022.

The last Duke player to go No. 1 overall was Zion Williamson in 2019. Before Williamson, it was Kyrie Irving in 2011.

The Magic had the No. 1 overall pick three other times — in 2004, 1993, and 1992. The Magic selected Dwight Howard in 2004, Chris Webber in 1993, and Shaquille O’Neal in 1992.

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