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Orlando Magic takes the 1st pick in NBA Draft alongside soccer star Mbappe

Orlando made a surprise first pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, picking Paolo Banchero, on a night marked by the presence of soccer star Kylian Mbappé

By ADN America Staff

June 24, 2022 8:24am

Updated: June 24, 2022 1:36pm

Orlando Magic selected Paolo Banchero with the first pick of the NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Thursday to reveal the most anticipated secret of the night for basketball fans: which player is considered the best talent of this generation?

Banchero, who averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 39 games as a starter in his only year as a college player at Duke, will look to turn around a Magic lackluster after their season of just 22 wins and 60 losses. It was a surprise that Paolo Banchero took the No. 1 pick from Jabari Smith.

"I plan to bring everything I have to Orlando," Banchero told ESPN, dressed in a flashy, dazzling purple suit. "First of all, a winning mentality, a work mentality. I'm ready to get in with the guys and get to work. This is one of the best times of my life. I'm very excited."

The other NBA surprise on Draft night was the signing of Paris Saint-Germain and French national soccer team star Kylian Mbappé. One of the best players in the world appeared alongside commissioner Adam Silver and was photographed with the first-round hopefuls, including Britain's Jeremy Sochan, the highest-ranked European after being selected ninth overall by the San Antonio Spurs. Mbappé also took a few touches of the ball as if it were a soccer ball.

Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren went to Oklahoma City’s Thunder as the second pick, and Auburn's favored small forward Jabari Smith ended up with the Houston Rockets as the number three pick in the draft. While draft night surprises are rare, Orlando's selection surprised many, including Banchero himself, as some pundits had predicted that sharpshooter Smith would take the top spot.

"I don't even know what to say. I can't believe what just happened, honestly," said the 19-year-old player, who helped lead Duke to the Final Four this year. "I wanted to be in the NBA but I didn't know I'd be here."

Rounding out the top five, the Sacramento Kings picked up Iowa forward Keegan Murray and the Detroit Pistons picked up Purdue's Jaden Ivey.

The draft, which began a week after the Golden State Warriors won their fourth NBA title in eight years, featured a strong group of international talent. Canadians Bennedict Mathurin and Shaedon Sharpe were selected sixth and seventh by the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers, respectively. Australian Dyson Daniels was taken eighth by the New Orleans Pelicans and the New York Knicks selected Frenchman Ousmane Dieng 11th overall.

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