Paolo Banchero to Wear No. 5 Jersey with Magic; Previously Worn by Mo Bamba

The top pick of the 2022 NBA draft has his jersey number.

The Orlando Magic shared a picture of the No. 5 jersey Paolo Banchero will wear, confirming he will keep the number he wore in college for the Duke Blue Devils:

Orlando selected Banchero with the No. 1 pick in a move that was shrouded with some secrecy until it happened. Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Auburn's Jabari Smith were also potential No. 1 picks, but the Magic went with the Blue Devils playmaker.

That he will wear No. 5 is notable since that has been Mo Bamba's number for the Magic since he was selected sixth overall in the 2018 draft. Bamba is a restricted free agent this offseason.

Banchero is now the cornerstone of the franchise after he was taken with the top overall pick, and he will be tasked with leading a turnaround for a Magic organization that has not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since the 2009-10 season.