“Feel Like It’s Nothing”: Orlando Magic No.1 Pick Paolo Banchero Ready For High Expectations

The Orlando Magic selected Duke’s Paolo Banchero as the first overall choice in the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. 6-foot-10 big Banchero helped Duke go to the Final Four during coach Mike Krzyzewski’s last season. He averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists during his one season with the Blue Devils.

With a record of 22-60, the Magic had the second-worst record in the league in 2021–22. They failed to reach the playoffs the prior two seasons. Banchero will be under a lot of pressure to perform with the Magic.

Orlando Magic Paolo Banchero
Credits: NCAA

The Magic have selected first overall draft picks four times before this. In 1992, Shaquille O’Neal was chosen for the first time. The Magic selected Dwight Howard with the first overall choice in the 2004 summer draft, and over the next three years, between 2009 and 2011, they saw him develop into the league’s finest defender. Banchero, who claims to be aware of what is in store for him, will undoubtedly face a lot of expectations and pressure based on the performances of the aforementioned prior top overall picks.

Paolo Banchero admits he’s ready for the Magic challenge

“There’s going to be high expectations for myself that I’m going to hold myself to and that everyone is going to hold myself to,” Banchero said.

“But I feel like it’s nothing I’m not used to. It was the same thing for me heading into college, throughout high school, a lot of expectations. It’s been like that my whole life.”

https://twitter.com/BancheroMusee/status/1540682151946903552?s=20&t=eivhTbq2IFJCu8ELTJwHqA

Although the Magic’s selection of Banchero is somewhat unexpected, the club took its time and carefully weighed all of its options, including trading the choice, before making their decision. He then took off sprinting after that. One day after being indelibly inscribed on the list of top draft selections, Banchero landed in Orlando on Friday. The 6-foot-10 big from Duke will formally begin working out the next week in preparation for Orlando’s NBA Summer League debut on July 7.