23.06.2022, USA, New York: Paolo Banchero (r) steht neben Adam Silver, NBA-Boss, nachdem er von den Orlando Magic als Nummer eins im NBA-Basketball-Draft ausgewählt wurde. Foto: John Minchillo/AP/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

With the first pick in the NBA draft, the Orlando Magic surprisingly chose a 19-year-old forward as Franz and Moritz Wagner’s new teammate. The team that selected the Berliner in eighth place last year picked Paolo Banchero from Duke University in New York on Thursday evening (local time). However, he only studied there for a year and should now help the young team in Florida to become a title candidate in the best basketball league in the world in the medium term. “I can’t believe what just happened, honestly,” Banchero told ESPN.

In the past few days, experts had expected the Magic to choose either Jabari Smith Jr. or Chet Holmgren. Holmgren was picked second by the Oklahoma City Thunder, while Smith was picked third by the Houston Rockets, where international Dennis Schröder played late last season. His future is open.