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The 2022 NBA Draft is finally here! The next wave of NBA talent will finally be one step closer to proving themselves at the next level and there are a handful of college prospects that could hear their name be called with the number one overall pick. Without further ado, let's continue our NBA odds series with a projection for the number one overall pick in this year's draft.
Courtesy of FanDuel, let’s take a look at the 2022 NBA Draft Odds.
2022 NBA Draft Odds: Projected N0. 1 Overall Pick
Jabari Smith: -260
Paolo Banchero: +195
Chet Holmgren: +2200
Jaden Ivey: +20000
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Why Jabari Smith Will Go First Overall
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With the highest odds to be selected by Orlando with the first pick and for good reason, the Auburn Tigers product led his team to one of the best records in all of college basketball before they were defeated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Miami. Regardless, Smith only bolstered his case to be the top pick in the draft after leading the Tigers with 16.9 PPG. Smith also showcased his scoring ability by shooting a 42.9% clip from the field including a terrific 42% from downtown. With only one year of the college game under his belt, Smith may need some time to adjust to the pace of the NBA game, but he has done enough to show that he has what it takes. At a towering 6'10”, 220 pounds, Smith has all of the intangibles to be a superstar forward at the next level.
Why Paolo Banchero Go First Overall
During Coach K's final season as the Blue Devils' head man, Banchero helped lead Duke to a trip to the Final Four before they ultimately came up short against their rivals in North Carolina. Banchero surely did not shy away from the biggest stage in college basketball, as the true freshman marched his way to 17.2 PPG in his lone season as a Blue Devil. With the quickness to play small forward and the length to play at the power forward position as well, NBA scouts and executives are drooling at the possibility of what Banchero can provide to an NBA franchise. With swirling rumors that a team could trade up to select the Duke product, there is a decent chance that Paolo Banchero's name is called first during the 2022 NBA Draft.
Why Chet Holmgren Will Go First Overall
One of the more intriguing prospects that this year's draft has to offer, the seven-footer out of Gonzaga certainly has the potential to be a great player in the league for many seasons to come. Even though Holmgren could definitely benefit from putting on a few extra pounds in order to be a dominating force at the center position, the freshman from Minneapolis was a main fixture of why Gonzaga was the number-one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. With exceptional post-play offensively and a knack for swatting opposing shot attempts out of thin air on defense, Holmgren passes the eye test in an abundance of ways. During his freshman campaign up in Spokane, the freshman averages 14.1 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 3.7 BPG to go along with an absurd 60% shooting from the field. Holmgren is considered a long-shot to go number one overall, but his overall talent cannot be ignored.
Why Jaden Ivey Will Go First Overall
Ten years from now, we may look back at this kid being the most rewarding selection out of any name in this draft. Already supplied with NBA-ready skills, Ivey fits the mold of a franchise cornerstone. Standing at 6'4″, the top guard in this draft class is considered to be super athletic, a great perimeter defender, and can spot-up shoot from anywhere on the floor. An underrated passer combined with a quick handle, Ivey is the definition of explosiveness with the ball in his hands. His sophomore season at Purdue saw him average 17.1 PPG while compiling a 46% field goal percentage, which is exceptional coming from the guard position. Ivey's odds to go number one currently sit at +20000, but whichever franchise that calls his name on Thursday night will instantly be a better team overnight.
2022 NBA Draft Prediction: Jabari Smith (-260)
