2022 NBA Draft: Banchero emerges as #1 pick, Holmgren takes #2
Ochai Agbaji only player of Nigerian origin to get drafted
Italian-American Paolo Banchero has emerged as the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and was selected by the Orlando Magic, following in the footsteps of Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard. Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr emerged as the second and third overall picks, respectively.
Holmgren was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Smith Jr joined the Houston Rockets, following in the footsteps of Jalen Green. Jabari Smith Sr was the 45th pick in the 2000 NBA Draft for the Sacramento Kings.
Keegan Murray was the fourth pick and joined the Sacramento Kings, as Jayden Ivey was selected fifth by the Detroit Pistons. The Indiana Pacers selected Benedict Mathurin sixth, Shaedon Sharpe was selected as seventh overall by the Portland Trail Blazers, Dyson Daniels joined the New Orleans Pelicans as the eighth overall pick, Jeremy Sochan joined the San Antonio Spurs as the ninth pick, and Johnny Davis was picked tenth by the Washington Wizards.
Born to a Nigerian father, Ochai Agbaji was selected 14th by the Cleveland Cavaliers, making him the only player of Nigerian origin in the draft.
Champions Golden State Warriors selected Patrick Baldwin Jr with the 28th pick of the first round. They also selected Tyrese Martin and 20-year-old Brazilian Gui Santos with the 51st and 55th picks of the second round.
Isaiah Mobley was selected with the 49th pick of the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers, teaming up with his younger brother Evan, who was the third overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers.
Cameroonian Christian Koloko was selected as the 33rd pick by the Toronto Raptors and Khalifa Diop of Senegal was selected 39th by the Cavaliers. Congolese center Yannick Nzosa was selected 54th by the Washington Wizards.
Sochan, Ousmane Dieng, Nikola Jovic, Gabriele Procida, Moussa Diabate, Matteo Spagnolo, Karlo Matkovic, and Hugo Besson were the only Europeans in 2022 NBA Draft.
