The 2025 NBA Draft was STACKED. From generational stars like Cooper Flagg to underrated international steals and shocking trades, the league’s next era just got a serious injection of talent. Let’s break down every pick from 1 to 30.
1. Mavericks — Cooper Flagg (Duke)
⭐ The consensus No. 1. A generational two-way forward who replaces Luka in Dallas. They beat 1.8% odds to land him and now have a new franchise cornerstone.
2. Spurs — Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
🧠 A big guard with elite feel and vision. Harper will be the perfect pick-and-roll partner for Wemby and helps push the Spurs toward playoff contention.
3. 76ers — VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
⚡ Explosive scorer with defensive upside. Fits beautifully alongside Embiid and Maxey. Could be one of the top 3 players from this class.
4. Hornets — Kon Knueppel (Duke)
🎯 Pure shooter with size. High IQ wing who could thrive off LaMelo and Miller. Great fit for a team needing perimeter depth.
5. Jazz — Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
🔮 Some scouts think Bailey has the highest ceiling in the draft. 6’10 wing with handles, athleticism, and upside. Utah’s future just got a lot brighter.
6. Wizards — Tre Johnson (Texas)
🏹 Smooth scorer with a silky jumper. Will lead the rebuild in Washington, especially after trading Poole.
7. Pelicans — Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
👀 Crafty combo guard with a deep bag. Could form a deadly backcourt with CJ (or his replacement if he’s traded).
8. Nets — Egor Demin (BYU)
🌍 International sleeper. 6’9” point-forward with excellent playmaking. Brooklyn gets unique upside here.
9. Raptors — Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
🧱 Tough, physical forward who defends and finishes. Fits Toronto’s culture perfectly.
10. Rockets (→ Suns) — Khaman Maluach (Duke)
🏗️ 7-footer with rim protection and mobility. Phoenix trades up and gets frontcourt help they badly needed.
11. Trail Blazers (→ Grizzlies) — Cedric Coward (Washington State)
🚀 Elite athlete and two-way beast. Memphis loves versatile wings and Coward brings juice on both ends.
12. Bulls — Noa Essengue (Germany)
🇩🇪 Mobile big with strong interior presence. Raw but intriguing. Chicago’s gamble on upside.
13. Hawks (→ Pelicans) — Derik Queen (Maryland)
📦 Skilled post scorer with underrated passing. Solid big for Zion insurance.
14. Spurs — Carter Bryant (Arizona)
🎨 Flashy scorer with smooth iso game. Spurs double down on youth and talent.
15. Thunder — Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
🛡️ Defensive anchor and lob threat. Thunder add muscle to their fast-paced core.
16. Grizzlies (→ Blazers) — Yang Hansen (China)
🐉 7’2” center with great touch and upside. Could be the next big international steal.
17. Timberwolves — Joan Beringer (Slovenia)
🧬 Guard with strong instincts and motor. Might stash overseas, but great long-term pick.
18. Wizards (→ Jazz) — Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida)
🔥 Shooter with confidence. Jazz love guards who can light it up — he fits.
19. Nets — Nolan Traoré (France)
🚄 Lightning-quick guard. Huge potential as a spark plug off the bench.
20. Heat — Kasparas Jakučionis (Illinois)
🔧 Versatile forward with toughness and grit. Classic Heat culture pick.
21. Jazz (→ Wizards) — Will Riley (Illinois)
🧨 Shot creator with strong frame. Wizards stacking young talent around Johnson.
22. Hawks (→ Nets) — Drake Powell (North Carolina)
📏 6’7″ guard with defense-first mindset. Brooklyn adds depth to their perimeter.
23. Pelicans (→ Hawks) — Asa Newell (Georgia)
🌪️ Super athletic 4-man who can defend and slash. Big upside play for Atlanta.
24. Thunder (→ Kings) — Nique Clifford (Colorado State)
🔒 Long, switchable defender. Sacramento gets a perfect glue guy for the wing.
25. Magic — Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
📈 Son of Jason Richardson. Explosive athlete who fits Orlando’s long guard tradition.
26. Nets — Ben Saraf (Germany)
🇩🇪 Sharp shooter with high feel. Sleeper 3&D guard that could crack the rotation early.
27. Nets — Danny Wolf (Michigan)
🐺 Stretch big with good footwork. Brooklyn adds floor spacing at the 5.
28. Celtics — Hugo González (Spain)
🌟 Athletic wing with pro experience in Europe. Could be a steal for Boston.
29. Suns (→ Hornets) — Liam McNeeley (UConn)
💡 Smart shooter with great feel. Hornets add a future 3&D starter.
30. Clippers — Yanic Niederhauser (Penn State)
🧱 Big defensive big who can switch and rebound. Clippers go physical to end the round.
Final Take:
This draft was deep and internationally loaded, with multiple teams nailing their needs. Cooper Flagg headlines the class, but there’s at least a dozen players here who could become long-term starters — and maybe even a few All-Stars.
Stay tuned — this class could go down as one of the strongest in recent years.
