Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell and more react to the 2022 NBA draft class

ESPN

Jun 23, 2022, 09:56 PM ET

NBA draft night is hugely exciting for pretty much everyone involved. For the draftees, it's the culmination of a lifelong dream (and a hefty paycheck). For families, it's a time of absolute pride. For fans, it's a chance to dream of a future full of MVP awards and NBA titles. Some of the most entertaining reactions, however, come from NBA players following along at home, as they see who they'll be playing once the season tips off.

Imagine being on an NBA team that's struggling to make the leap from also-ran to contender and finding out your front office drafted the absolute perfect complement to your playing style -- or, conversely, seeing it just picked up your obvious replacement. The stakes -- or the emotions -- of old and new players alike absolutely could not be higher. The 2022 NBA draft was no different, as the drama started as soon as the Orlando Magic selected Duke Blue Devils standout forward Paolo Banchero with their No. 1 pick.

Here's just a sample of the reactions from NBA stars to the big picks on draft night.