The 2025 NBA Draft is over, and the first round was full of excitement and surprising decisions. The Dallas Mavericks made Duke University’s Cooper Flagg the first pick, while the San Antonio Spurs selected Rutgers’ Dillon Harper second. Ace Bailey, who was once considered a third-ranked player, slipped to fifth and will now play for the Utah Jazz.
The Mavericks are officially on the clock ⏰ 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OdNb67EfDv
— NBA Draft 2025 (@nbadraft2025) May 13, 2025
2025 NBA Draft First Round
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg
Grade: A | 6-foot-8 wing | 18 years old | Duke
Cooper Flagg is a strong defender and a great reader of the game. He is an excellent shot blocker. High steal rate. Excellent passer. In his only college season, he has made huge strides as a shooter. Cooper Flagg is a great pick for Dallas and could be the face of the team in the future.
BREAKING NEWS from @ShamsCharania, the @DetroitPistons have traded up to the top pick of the #2025nbadraft and are planning on selecting Cooper Flagg pic.twitter.com/jbkd2Gug55
— NBA Draft 2025 (@nbadraft2025) June 25, 2025
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper
Grade: A | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Rutgers
Dylan Harper is a great bet as a guard. Harper is a great playmaker and a big NBA lead guard who, along with Victor Wembanyama, could form the backbone of the Spurs for the next 15 years. This is a player who plays well on both ends of the floor.
Filipino roots. Global game 🇵🇭🌎
Dylan Harper joins some of a few players with Filipino heritage in NBA history! pic.twitter.com/kHcmCPy1vj
— ESPN (@espn) June 26, 2025
3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe
Grade: B | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Baylor
Edgecombe is a great athlete, which makes him a great defender. He is destructive all over the court on the defensive end and can demoralise opponents.
VJ EDGECOMBE IS HEADED TO PHILLY WITH THE THIRD PICK 🔔 pic.twitter.com/zwd7cm4SBP
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 26, 2025
4. Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel
Grade: B | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Duke
Kon Knueppel is a great shooter and a great dribbler. His game is a good mix of intelligence and strength. Knueppel is one of the most versatile players in the NBA and can help his team win.
KON KNEUPPEL IS HEADED TO THE HORNETS 🐝 pic.twitter.com/k5IqOk6Zsk
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 26, 2025
5. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey
Grade: A | 6-8 wing | 18 years old | Rutgers
Bailey is a player with great size, good length and athleticism who can become a superstar in the future. This great player could be a good choice for the Jazz.
ACE BAILEY IS HEADED TO UTAH ➡️ pic.twitter.com/MmPNy4Hzia
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 26, 2025
6. Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson
Grade: A | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Texas
Tre Johnson is a player who has the potential to be a strong performer this season. Johnson is a tough shot-maker and can score quickly. The Washington Wizards made a great choice.
Tre Johnson is headed to Washington with the 6th pick in the 2025 NBA draft ✨ pic.twitter.com/IRMAo53beq
— ESPN (@espn) June 26, 2025
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears
Grade: C+ | 6-3 guard | 18 years old | Oklahoma
Jeremiah Fears is a very crafty and efficient ball handler. It is very difficult for anyone to stay in front of him. He could be one of the best players in the NBA.
Taking flight with the Pelicans‼️
Jeremiah Fears is headed to New Orleans with the 7th pick ✈️ pic.twitter.com/Q3MDwmbm9J
— ESPN (@espn) June 26, 2025
8. Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin
Grade: C+ | 6-8 guard | 19 years old | BYU
Egor Demin is a tall player who uses his height to pass and defend. His excellent play as a passer and processor is a treat to watch.
The Brooklyn Nets are going with Egor Demin with the 8th pick 🏀 pic.twitter.com/0PIx0uinv0
— ESPN (@espn) June 26, 2025
9. Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray
Grade: B | 6-7 | 20 years old | South Carolina
Murray Boyles is a strong defender and an aggressive shooter who could be a good forward.
Welcome to Toronto, Collin Murray-Boyles 🤝
Presented by @TorontoStar pic.twitter.com/G4w6DPFucp
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) June 26, 2025
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10. Phoenix Suns: Khaman Maluach
Grade: A- | 7-1 big | 18 years old | Duke
Maluach is a strong defender at just 18 years old and tall, who could be a good player for the Suns.
The complete draft board for the 1st round of the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm!
Which pick is your favorite? 🤔
2nd Round: Thursday, 8pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/n3CcG9cirJ
— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025
11. Memphis Grizzlies: Cedric Coward
Grade: B | 6-5 wing | 21 years old | Washington State
Coward is a late bloomer and has a great 3-point shot that can lead to a lot of points. Coward could be a good defender and shooter at some point.
12. Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue
Grade: B | 6-10 big | 18 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm
Essengue is the best player on the board and a good athlete, just needs to improve on strength and skill.
13. New Orleans Pelicans: Derik Queen
Grade: A- | 6-10 big | 20 years old | Maryland
Derik Queen is an aggressive and talented player who can perform well for long periods of time, but is a little weak on defence.
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14. San Antonio Spurs: Carter Bryant
Grade: A | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Arizona
Carter Bryant is a very aggressive and high-level wing player and a strong defender who is a good choice for the Spurs.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber
Grade: B | 6-9 big | 19 years old | Georgetown
Sorber is a well-built player, standing at 6-foot-9. With excellent passing and a natural game, this young player could do well going forward.
16. Portland Trail Blazers: Hansen Yang
Grade: C | 7-1 big | 20 years old | Qingdao, China
A player with great athleticism and passing vision. The Blazers’ decision to take Hanson Yang could work wonders.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Joan Beringer
Grade: A | 6-11 big | 18 years old | KK Cedevita Olimpija, France
Joan Beringer is a flexible player with a long stature who is adept at shot blocking. A strong defender who could replace Rudy Gobert in the future.
18. Utah Jazz: Walter Clayton Jr.
Grade: A- | 6-2 guard | 22 years old | Florida
An excellent long-range shooter who will make a good contribution to the team. He also plays as a combo guard. Clayton had a stellar collegiate career.
19. Brooklyn Nets: Nolan Traore
Grade: B | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Saint-Quentin, France
Young player who has shown excellent performance in the French League and the Basketball Champions League this season. Traore can become a strong playmaker in the future.
20. Miami Heat: Kasparas Jakucionis
Grade: A | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Illinois
A player who is a good shooter and dribbler, and can also pass well. Jakucionis will become a strong part of the Heat in the future.
21. Washington Wizards: Will Riley
Grade: C+ | 6-8 wing | 19 years old | Illinois
This tall young player who plays on both ends of the court has a lot of aggression and fearlessness to watch. His feel for the game is very natural.
22. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell
Grade: C+ | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | North Carolina
Drake Powell has an outstanding defense and could be a great NBA player in the future.
23. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell
Grade: B+ | 6-9 big | 19 years old | Georgia
An excellent passer and a strong defender, this is a pick that no one needs to consider.
24. Sacramento Kings: Nique Clifford
Grade: B | 6-5 wing | 23 years old | Colorado State
Clifford is a good shooter, a good dribbler, a good defender, and a good rebounder, and could be a strong NBA player in the future.
25. Orlando Magic: Jase Richardson
Grade: B+ | 6-1 guard | 19 years old | Michigan S Good tate
Good at shooting and scoring, great ball-hand balance makes him a talented player.
26. Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf
Grade: B | guard | 6-6 guard | 19 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm
Ben Saraf is a dominating guard and an excellent all-rounder, as well as an incredible passer.
A bit of good news coming to NYC – in a historic event for Israeli basketball, two Israeli players, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, were selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft.
The Brooklyn Nets drafted them both, with Saraf going 26th overall and Wolf, who is a dual… pic.twitter.com/ITDAY4xqFN
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) June 26, 2025
27. Brooklyn Nets: Danny Wolf
Grade: B+ | 6-11 big | 21 years old | Michigan
A tall, strong passer, I see Wolf as a future All-NBA player.
28. Boston Celtics: Hugo Gonzalez
Grade: B- | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Real Madrid, Spain
An athletic player with a strong wing position and excellent defense.
29. Charlotte Hornets: Liam McNeeley
Grade: A | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut
Great all-around game, excellent shooter who will be a long-term player.
30. Los Angeles Clippers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser
Grade: B | 6-11 big | 22 | Penn State
Long and strong defensively, this player is unmatched.
The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is complete 👀
Which team had the best night? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/YG9b07DGCD
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 26, 2025
The 2025 NBA Draft saw strong selections, surprising decisions, and exciting moments. It remains to be seen which selection will prove to be strong in the long run and which will remain ordinary