The Orlando Magic will officially have the first pick of the 2022 NBA Draft.
Compiling a 22-60 card this season, the Magic emerged victorious amongst the draft hopefuls and reconstructing teams. Tied with the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons at 14 percent to land the prized first selection, they are now pumped up to pick a franchise-altering player that will be at the middle of their rebuild project.
It will be their fourth time that they’ll be in possession of the first pick. Orlando had Shaquille O’Neal (1992), Chris Webber (1993) and Dwight Howard (2004) filling in for their choices from the previous occasions.
And now, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Duke’s Paolo Banchero, Auburn’s Jabari Smith and Jaden Ivey of Purdue will be on their plate for this year.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder went for the second pick, Rockets received third, while the Sacramento Kings snatched the fourth pick. Shockingly, the Pistons only landed for the fifth selection.
This year’s NBA Draft is set to take place in New York this June 23rd.
