The question for weeks leading into the NBA draft was whether the first pick would be Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith Jr.
The answer finally came Thursday night in New York B次元官网网址� and even Banchero didnB次元官网网址檛 know it until moments before the announcement of the Orlando MagicB次元官网网址檚 selection.
B次元官网网址淚 had a feeling from the information I was being told is that it was just kind of up in the air,B次元官网网址� Banchero said. B次元官网网址淥rlando wasnB次元官网网址檛 really sure yet, and just to be ready for whatever,
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 find out, though, that I was actually getting picked until about 20 seconds before the commissioner got on the stage. I didnB次元官网网址檛 even have time to really think about it or anything. It just kind of happened. I canB次元官网网址檛 believe it, but IB次元官网网址檓 ready. IB次元官网网址檓 ready.B次元官网网址�
After leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four in coach Mike KrzyzewskiB次元官网网址檚 final season, the 6-foot-10 forward was called first by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to begin the draft, beating out fellow first-year forwards Smith and Holmgren.
The order had been debated throughout the process, with Smith often considered the player who would go No. 1.
Instead, he wasnB次元官网网址檛 even second, falling behind Holmgren to Houston at No. 3.
B次元官网网址淒efinitely added a chip, but God makes no mistakes, so IB次元官网网址檓 happy to be here,B次元官网网址� Smith said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 happy to be where IB次元官网网址檓 wanted. IB次元官网网址檓 happy to get to Houston and just show them, give them what they picked. Just happy to be here.B次元官网网址�
All the players picked looked thrilled, with Banchero among those crying or coming close as they hugged friends and family.
Wearing a purple suit full of bling, he received a loud ovation inside Barclays Center, where Duke lost in the ACC Tournament final.
The Magic were picking first for the fourth time and theyB次元官网网址檝e done well with their previous choices. They took Shaquille OB次元官网网址橬eal in 1992, traded the rights to Chris Webber for Penny Hardaway the next year, and went with Dwight Howard in 2004.
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All eventually reached the NBA Finals with the Magic.
Holmgren went second to the Oklahoma City Thunder after the 7-footer led the West Coast Conference in blocked shots, rebounding and shooting percentage at Gonzaga. He looked sharp in his black suit but may need it to eventually be a bigger size for success in the NBA, as heB次元官网网址檚 listed at just 195 pounds.
HeB次元官网网址檚 not worried about that talk.
B次元官网网址淚 wake up every day with a plan on how to make myself a better person, better basketball player,B次元官网网址� Holmgren said. B次元官网网址淚 put so much effort into executing that, that it doesnB次元官网网址檛 really leave room to put effort into things that, one, I canB次元官网网址檛 control, and two, donB次元官网网址檛 help make me better.B次元官网网址�
The Rockets were happy to end up in Smith who has the skills to go higher. The 6-10 forward from Auburn is a natural fit in the current NBA game, able to defend all three frontcourt positions and with a shooting stroke that allowed him to hit 42% behind the arc.
Forward Keegan Murray, after a huge leap in his second season in Iowa, jumped all the way to the No. 4 pick by the Sacramento Kings. The Detroit Pistons, a year after taking Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick, took athletic Purdue guard Jaden Ivey fifth.
Before the selections began, Silver congratulated the Golden State Warriors on their recent NBA championship and reminded fans that their core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green was built through the draft.
All the teams at the top of this draft need help and have recent high picks already on their rosters, so will hope the Warriors way works for them as well.
Bennedict Mathurin, a Canadian who played at Arizona, went to Indiana with the No. 6 pick. The Portland Trail Blazers followed with KentuckyB次元官网网址檚 Shaedon Sharpe, Dyson Daniels of the G League Ignite was taken eighth by New Orleans, BaylorB次元官网网址檚 Jeremy Sochan stayed in Texas with San Antonio at No. 9, and Washington rounded out the top 10 with WisconsinB次元官网网址檚 Johnny Davis.
Brian Mahoney, The Associated Press
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