The 2022 NBA Draft is Thursday night and that means all of your favorite traditions are back. Awkward handshakes, exciting trade rumors, and very wild suits worn by very tall men.
Paolo Banchero is expected to be one of the first basketball players taken in the draft this evening but he’s already made headlines thanks to his purple suit that Prince would be proud to wear.
I chose not to cover the NBA draft in person out of concern that Paolo Banchero and I would be wearing the same suit. pic.twitter.com/PYqTBekf9j
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) June 23, 2022
This extremely colorful selection wasn’t just by chance. Banchero, who grew up in Seattle, WA, specifically wore the purple suit out of respect for his parents, who wanted him to attend Washington.
“I wore this color cause everyone gave my parents some heat for me not going to UW where they went so this was like an I’m sorry,” Banchero said.
All things equal, it appears that the Duke product, who is about to become a millionaire, won’t have to say sorry to his parents for his decisions for much longer.
Paolo Banchero — who grew up in Seattle, WA — showed up to the #NBADraft2022 in a purple suit.
“I wore this color cause everyone gave my parents some heat for me not going to UW where they went so this was like a I’m sorry.”https://t.co/VBrMggCxbw pic.twitter.com/6MuwgJsHkR
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) June 23, 2022
While it’s certainly a sweet notion, the extremely purple suit caught the attention of the NBA and basketball world, who absolutely needed to make sure that their comments and reactions were known on social media. Along with the requisite Prince and Joker references, Washington Huskies fans were especially lit up considering the reminder of what could have been.
with the third pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets select Paolo Banchero and The Revolution pic.twitter.com/BaI012RoS4
— Hector Diaz (@iamHectorDiaz) June 23, 2022
It looks like he fell onto an earring display at Clare's. https://t.co/jSLLW3cNVs
— The Bearded Educator (@LiteraryBeardo) June 23, 2022
Lol what, is he going to fight Batman after he gets drafted? https://t.co/qExBnQ3V8L
— Jack (@_jackkrecidlo) June 23, 2022
"nah man there's no way they're gonna make joker 2 a musical."
joakim phoenix: https://t.co/BkeKn71iI8— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) June 23, 2022
Paolo Banchero already has my vote for best suit of the night.
Watch the #NBADraft tonight at 8 pm on @ABC7NY🏀 pic.twitter.com/UES9wkLYG3
— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) June 23, 2022
Are we sure those crystals on the suit ain’t salt? Cuz he’s rubbing in that wound for sure 😅 https://t.co/uc9uyMIZ3b
— Ally Osborne (@allysosborne) June 23, 2022
Lol u-dub really stay losing https://t.co/PYJOHuCeB9
— Cyrus Smith (@CoolCyWrites) June 23, 2022
Looking forward to the "this guy ended your franchise" memes pic.twitter.com/DReGdryHXn
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) June 23, 2022
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.