Paolo Banchero the No. 1 pick in the 2022 N.B.A. draft.

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Paolo Banchero the No. 1 pick in the 2022 N.B.A. draft.

The 6-foot-10 forward, Paolo Banchero from Duke was picked by Orlando Magic as their first overall pick in the NBA Draft.

By beating out fellow first-year forwards Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith Jr. he was called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to begin the draft. 

Banchero, who averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 39 starts in his one year at Duke and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's rookie of the year.

Paolo Banchero expresses that “I didn't find out, though, that I was actually getting picked until about 20 seconds before the commissioner got on the stage. I didn't even have time to really think about it or anything. It just kind of happened. I can't believe it, but I'm ready. I'm ready."