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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Blake Schuster

6 brilliant bettors won $450,000 total on the NBA Draft by avoiding the Jabari Smith and Paolo Banchero noise

Paolo Banchero Jabari Smith NBA NBA Draft (Event) Jabari Smith Jr DraftKings Sportsbook Tipico

Imagine what it must’ve been like for people who weeks ago bet on Jabari Smith Jr. to go No. 3 overall in the NBA Draft. Imagine what it would be like to place a couple thousand dollars on Paolo Banchero as the No. 1 pick, only to watch Adrian Wojnarowski tweet Thursday morning that the Duke star was likely going third.

It must have been terrifying. And worth it.

For a few bettors who dropped massive coin on Banchero and Smith wagers before the betting markets went haywire, Thursday night was as much a celebration of riches as it was the turning point in how drafts will be bet on forever.

Sometimes the group chat gets it right.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).

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