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The Maine Event is officially a Maverick.
June 26, 2025
30 Aspirations Realized: Cooper Flagg spearheaded a historic and emotional opening round of the draft.
First Insight: Flagg’s ascent to the top overall pick and why seasoned NBA veterans are already taken by him.
Behind the Scenes: A “delusional dream,” a bus journey to Barclays, and a memorable high school reunion.
Second Round Preview: Key talents still available and seven teams preparing for their inaugural selections.
Draft Night Highlights: The joy, flair, and snapshots of an unforgettable evening.
One round is complete, and the next is on the horizon…
The 2025 NBA Draft, sponsored by State Farm, wraps up tonight with Round 2 at 8 PM ET on ESPN. Keep connected with the NBA App for real-time updates and news.
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On May 12, the Mavericks shocked the basketball community by clinching the Draft Lottery despite having only a 1.8% chance of securing the top pick.
Just 45 days later, there was no shock when the Mavs chose Duke forward Cooper Flagg, the anticipated top selection since he declared for the Draft. |Draft Board
Completing the Top 5: The top of the draft unfolded as expected—almost mirroring the Consensus Mock Draft—but that didn’t diminish the emotions each player felt as they achieved their NBA dreams.
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As they entered the 2025 Draft, Rutgers had never seen a top 5 pick. However, on Wednesday, they celebrated two selections with Harper and Bailey.
In addition to the two Scarlet Knights, the top ten also featured three Blue Devils: Flagg (No. 1), Knueppel (No. 4), and Khaman Maluach, who was drafted 10th by Houston—a selection that will go to Phoenix as part of the Kevin Durant trade.
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While the Draft symbolizes future opportunities, this year’s class stands on the shoulders of the game’s pioneers from years gone by.
Ahead of the 13th pick, the NBA commemorated the 75th anniversary of the inaugural 1950 Draft, when pioneers Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton became the first Black players to break into the NBA.
The selection that followed this tribute was one of several trades that occurred during the first round. |Trade Tracker
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The Mavericks’ first Summer League game is just around two weeks away. Meanwhile, their No. 1 selection has already sampled NBA competition.
Before hitting the court at Cameron Indoor Stadium, 17-year-old Cooper Flagg played for the USA Basketball Select Team during a closed scrimmage in July against Team USA’s Olympic squad.
Among the 15 players invited to challenge the game’s biggest stars, Flagg stood out as the youngest and the only one without prior NBA experience.
On a team filled with rising stars like Amen Thompson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Jalen Suggs, the kid barely of driving age not only blended in but also shone brightly.
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Flagg has been a highly-regarded prospect since he was a dynamic, 6-foot-6 eighth grader; however, he hasn’t let the praise go to his head – instead, he remains focused on pursuing formidable competition, as noted by The Athletic.
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In the previous summer, while competing against the best in the USA, Flagg faced one of his toughest tests—going head-to-head with a fellow superstar on a similar trajectory, Anthony Davis.
Now, these two generational talents will join forces in Dallas, where another former No. 1 pick who participated in that USA scrimmage believes Flagg is a perfect fit.
3. BEHIND THE SCENES: AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENING IN BROOKLYN
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“Sometimes it’s okay to dream big, even if it seems delusional – and those dreams can come true.”
That was Khaman Maluach’s message on Thursday afternoon for young African basketball aspirants. Hours later, the 7-footer from South Sudan, who didn’t pick up a basketball until he was 13, was taken 10th overall.
Overwhelmed with emotion after hearing his name announced, Maluach reflected on how his “delusional dream” had now become reality.
From poignant interviews to fun exchanges behind the scenes, Draft Night in Brooklyn evoked a wide range of emotions, beginning with some nervous excitement from the No. 1 pick.
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Long before the names were called, the atmosphere was buzzing as the entire 2025 Draft Class arrived together at Barclays Center – each athlete bringing their unique story to a remarkable night.
This once-in-a-lifetime event concluded with two more deeply moving moments.
4. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN TONIGHT’S SECOND ROUND
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On Wednesday, 30 basketball dreams came to fruition in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Tonight, another 29 players will take significant steps in their basketball careers during the second round (8 PM ET, ESPN).
Past experiences have shown that valuable players can be discovered in the second round.
We’ve seen MVPs such as three-time winner Nikola Jokić, 2017 Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, and Hall of Famers like Willis Reed, Dennis Rodman, and Manu Ginobili, all of whom started their NBA journeys as second-round selections.
Here are seven notable players still available as we head into tonight:
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of Draft Night.
From tearful embraces to triumphant struts through the tunnel, Wednesday was a celebration of hard work, commitment, and dreams coming true.
Check out some of our favorite images from a night 30 young men will forever cherish.
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