Dick Vitale believes Magic made correct call in Paolo Banchero vs Jabari Smith

Former Duke basketball star Paolo Banchero became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft after a surprise move up the board in the final hours of the preparation process.

After many believed the Orlando Magic would select Auburn’s Jabari Smith, they changed course and two two flipped picks on draft night with Smith being selected No. 3 overall by the Houston Rockets.

“There was lots of speculation that Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. would go number one, but the Orlando Magic surprised many by choosing Paolo Banchero from Duke,” Vitale wrote. “I believe the Magic made the right decision because they need an immediate impact player and Banchero will fill that role. I feel he will be a big star at the next level.”

The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Banchero played and started 39 games for the Blue Devils as a freshman. He scored 17.2 points per game in 33 minutes with a 47.8% hit rate from the field. Posting 7.8 boards per game, Banchero was just a couple of rebounds shy of averaging a double-double, which he notched on 12 occasions.

Meanwhile Smith was just as impressive, averaging 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 42.9% from the field, including 42% from three-point territory, as a freshman in 2021-22. As a result, he was named the National Freshman of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and was a second-team All-American – the writing was on the wall for the Auburn product to go No. 1 overall, but fate would have it otherwise.

“It’s a mixture of both you know what I mean,” Smith said when asked about his emotions when Banchero was selected No. 1. “Like I just got drafted to the NBA, so I’m excited. I don’t care if I was picked third or if I was picked 52, either way I’m happy. I’m happy to be here happy to be with this organization and of course I’ll use it as a chip on my shoulder. But at the end of the day, all of that is behind me and none of that really matters no more. I’m happy to be where I’m am.”

Banchero and Smith will have the opportunity to prove on the court who should have been selected No. 1 overall when the Magic take on the Rockets during the 2022 NBA Summer League’s opening game on July 7 at 10 p.m. ET live on ESPN.