With the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, the Orlando Magic selected Duke forward Paolo Banchero. The move came as something of a surprise, given that Banchero never met with the Magic and the consensus around the league was that Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr. would be headed to Orlando.
Instead, it was Banchero who heard his name called first. Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren went No. 2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Houston Rockets took Smith with the No. 3 overall pick. The Sacramento Kings drafted Iowa forward Keegan Murray at No.