NEW YORK — Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith were the big winners Thursday night, going Nos. 1-3 in the 2022 NBA draft. The Orlando Magic had the No. 1 pick for the first time since 2004 and selected Duke’s Banchero, making him the second No. 1 pick from Duke in the last four years (Zion Williamson went No. 1 in 2019). Oklahoma City remains patient with their rebuild, adding the most polarizing player in the draft, 7-foot-1 195-pound center, Chet Holmgren.
There were a couple surprise picks with Patrick Baldwin Jr.