AP

Banchero arrives in Orlando, a day after becoming No. 1 pick

Jun 24, 2022, 12:54 AM | Updated: 2:48 pm

Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, left, introduces the NBA basketball ...

Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, left, introduces the NBA basketball team's draft picks forward Caleb Houstan (2) and forward Paolo Banchero (5) along with head coach Jamahl Mosley, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

(AP Photo/John Raoux)


              Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, left, introduces the NBA basketball team's draft picks forward Caleb Houstan (2) and forward Paolo Banchero (5) along with head coach Jamahl Mosley, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic draft pick forward Caleb Houstan answers questions during an NBA basketball press conference, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic draft picks forward Caleb Houstan, left, and forward Paolo Banchero answer questions during a news conference for the NBA basketball team, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic draft picks forward Caleb Houstan (2) and forward Paolo Banchero (5) show off their new jerseys during a news conference for the NBA basketball team, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic No. 1 draft pick, forward Paolo Banchero shows off his jersey at an NBA basketball news conference, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic's No. 1  draft pick, forward Paolo Banchero, answers questions at an NBA basketball news conference, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic's No. 1  draft pick, forward Paolo Banchero, answers questions at an NBA basketball news conference, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, left, introduces the NBA basketball team's draft picks forward Caleb Houstan (2) and forward Paolo Banchero (5) along with head coach Jamahl Mosley, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic draft pick forward Caleb Houstan answers questions during an NBA basketball press conference, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic draft picks forward Caleb Houstan, left, and forward Paolo Banchero answer questions during a news conference for the NBA basketball team, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic draft picks forward Caleb Houstan (2) and forward Paolo Banchero (5) show off their new jerseys during a news conference for the NBA basketball team, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic No. 1 draft pick, forward Paolo Banchero shows off his jersey at an NBA basketball news conference, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Orlando Magic's No. 1  draft pick, forward Paolo Banchero, answers questions at an NBA basketball news conference, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
            
              Paolo Banchero walks the floor before the start of the the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in New York. Banchero was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
            
              Paolo Banchero, reacts after being selected as the number one pick overall by the Orlando Magic in the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
            
              Paolo Banchero, hugs family and friends after being selected number one overall by the Orlando Magic in the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The secret about how Orlando was going to take Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft was incredibly well-kept.

Among those who didn’t know: Banchero himself.

Banchero said even he was kept out of the Magic decision loop until about 30 seconds before NBA Commissioner Adam Silver took the draft stage to announce his name for the basketball world to hear. Mike Miller, Banchero’s agent, leaned over and broke the news by simply saying “Congratulations.”

“It all happened pretty fast,” Banchero said.

With that, he was off and running. Banchero arrived in Orlando on Friday, one day after his name got permanently etched on the list of No. 1 draft picks. The 6-foot-10 forward out of Duke will officially start workouts next week for Orlando’s July 7 opener at NBA Summer League.

“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.”

The Magic looked at every option with the No. 1 pick. Teams called about obtaining it in a trade. Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. came in for a workout that some Orlando players attended and raved about. Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren spent a few days with the Magic last week. The team insisted other players were given serious consideration as well.

There were plenty of things to consider, fit in the short-term and fit in the long-term among them.

“There’s things that you’re grabbing from each one that you’re like, ‘Oh, man, wow, that can be great for us,'” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. “But then it ultimately comes down to, ‘How does that fit for us? How do we jell with them in the locker room? How are they treating people when they’re walking in?’ Because all those pieces play a factor. And I think we’ve done an incredible job with those details.”

The Magic said they were convinced when the college season ended that Banchero was the best player at that level this past season. But the actual timetable on when they made the decision to take him No. 1 remains a secret.

Miller, who won the NBA rookie of the year award in Orlando and now will try to help Banchero do the same as an agent, said he started getting hints about a half-hour before the pick was made.

“It was a great job of them doing the due diligence and keeping it quiet,” Miller said. “But they trusted in what they saw in him and what we were talking about as far as his basketball abilities — not only where he’s at now, but where he’s going to be. And there’s not, I’ll be honest, there’s not many Paolo Bancheros walking through a lot of doors. He’s just a special, special kid and a special basketball player.”

What happens over the next few days will be a whirlwind. Summer League practice awaits, and Banchero and second-round pick Caleb Houstan of Michigan both intend to play. There will be tons of attention on that, right from the get-go: the made-for-TV first game in Las Vegas pits Orlando against Houston, the team that used the No. 3 pick on Smith — after he was widely expected by many to end up in Orlando.

Mosley — who will run some practices going into Summer League, but will leave the game responsibilities in Las Vegas to Magic assistant Jesse Mermuys — said he doesn’t intend to coach Banchero any differently than any other player. But the fact is, Banchero will be viewed differently than any other rookie this season. Such is life for the No. 1 pick in any draft.

“Right now, the level of expectation of what people outside view as what the No. 1 pick should do and should be may be different,” Mosley said. “But we also understand, when you walk into this building, you’re an Orlando Magic and there’s a standard and a set of things that we’re going to need to do night in and night out to make everyone successful.”

Ultimately, that was one of the biggest determining factors for the Magic. Smith is obviously talented. Holmgren is obviously talented. The potential for both players is infinite. But something that set Banchero apart, in their eyes, was the way Orlando believes he makes the game easier for teammates.

“There are just so many things that go into this,” Magic President Jeff Weltman said. “It’s talent, it’s fit, it’s character, it’s the projection where the league is going. There’s so many things that factor into a conversation like this that you can literally go on for months more arguing it. And that’s kind of like what makes it fun, right? I mean, it’s been a fun process.”

And now, the real work starts.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Banchero arrives in Orlando, a day after becoming No. 1 pick