LAS VEGAS – When the doors finally opened to the Thomas & Mack Center, fans rushed down the aisles to get to the open seats closest to the court. Most wanted to make sure they had the best view to witness the marquee matchup between rookies Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith Jr. in the first game of the 2022 NBA summer league.
The Orlando Magic selected Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, while Smith went to the Houston Rockets two picks later. What made the matchup so intriguing for fans and intense for the two individuals involved was the pre-draft analysis done by most NBA media members, who had flipped the ultimate order.
Once Thursday’s game began, it was clear that Banchero was the more polished offensive player of the two, as he helped lead his team to a 91-77 victory (box score) over the Rockets. The Duke product finished the game with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, and he made quite an impression by connecting on his first four shots and not missing any until the middle of the second quarter, leading to 13 first-half points.
