Australian Dyson Daniels has been selected by the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 8 in the 2022 NBA draft.

Daniels had long been touted as a top 10 chance, and so it proved when NBA commissioner Adam Silver revealed the Pelicans' pick.

Daniels' selection continues a run of Australian picks in recent years, with Josh Giddey selected by Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 6 in 2021 while Josh Green went to the Dallas Mavericks at No. 18 in 2020.

Daniels had spent the past season honing his skills with the NBA G-League Ignite.

The Bendigo-born guard has already represented Australia at junior age level and has indicated his desire to join the Boomers and push for future Olympic and World Cup success.

He said he can't wait to get to work to help the Pelicans improve on their playoff run from this past season.

"That's huge, they made a really big step last year making the playoffs and did well," he said.

"Joining this team, I can help them do better in the playoffs. I'm a winner, I hate losing so I'll do whatever they need and I can definitely step into some roles and contribute straight away.

"I am just so happy ... to be a Pelican, there's no better place. I can't wait to get to work. This is crazy."

The first pick in Thursday's draft brought the first mild surprise, when the Orlando Magic chose Duke forward Paolo Banchero with the No.1 selection, following weeks of speculation that Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr or Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren might be the ones atop Orlando's list.

Smith went to the Houston Rockets with pick No.3 while Holmgren (No.2) will join Giddey at Oklahoma City, who also landed an NBL graduate at pick No.11.

French NBL Next Stars product Ousmane Dieng, the New Zealand Breakers import, was taken by the New York Knicks and then immediately traded for future first-round picks.

NBA DRAFT TOP 10

1. Paolo Banchero (Magic)

2. Chet Holmgren (Thunder)

3. Jabari Smith (Rockets)

4. Keegan Murray (Kings)

5. Jaden Ivey (Pistons)

6. Bennedict Mathurin (Pacers)

7. Shaedon Sharpe (Trail Blazers)

8. Dyson Daniels (Pelicans)

9. Jeremy Sochan (Spurs)

10. Johnny Davis (Wizards)