The Orlando Magic have selected forward Chuma Okeke of Auburn with their first pick of the 2019 NBA draft.
The Magic took Okeke with the 16th pick in the first round. They are scheduled to pick 46th in the second round.
Okeke averaged 12.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game last season for the Tigers. He also shot 38.7% from 3-point range. He sustained a torn ACL injury in the NCAA Tournament.
Okeke joins Zhaire Smith (76ers, 2018), Justin Patton (Bulls, 2017), Guerschon Yabusele (Celtics, 2016), Terry Rozier (Celtics, 2015) and Jusuf Nurkic (Bulls, 2014) as the most recent players taken with the No. 16 pick in the draft.
The Magic are coming off a bounce-back season where they went 42-40 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2012. In the first round, the Magic won the series opener against the Toronto Raptors as D.J. Augustin hit a 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds left. The Raptors responded by winning the next four games _ including two at Amway Center _ to close out the series.
Still, the postseason run energized a hungry fan base and now the Magic are hoping to maintain the momentum they built in the process.
The Magic hadn't picked outside of a lottery position or lower than 11th in the past six drafts.
Magic president of operations Jeff Weltman oversaw the previous two drafts, where the team selected Mohamed Bamba and Jonathan Isaac with the sixth picks. Despite being outside the lottery, Weltman and his staff continued to focus on finding the best player available.
Here is a look at the Magic's recent draft history:
2018: Mohamed Bamba (6), Melvin Frazier (35)
2017: Jonathan Isaac (6), Anzejs Pasecniks (25), Wesley Iwundu (33), Ivan Rabb (35)
2016: Stephen Zimmerman (41)
2015: Mario Hezonja (5), Tyler Harvey (51)
2014: Aaron Gordon (4), Dario Saric (12)
