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**2025 NBA Draft: Comprehensive Coverage**
**Prospects | Teams | News & Highlights**
BROOKLYN— The 2025 NBA Draft kicked off as the clock’s first five minutes ticked away, marked by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s entrance to the podium. A deep roar echoed through the crowd as thousands joined in a chant:
Coooooop! Coooooop!
With one simple announcement, the anticipation of an entire year morphed into reality as Cooper Flagg stepped onto the stage at Barclays Center, sealing his fate as the No. 1 pick. After a brief exchange with the Commissioner and a pose for the cameras, he made history as the fifth player from Duke to be selected first overall in the Lottery era, joining the ranks of Elton Brand (1999), Kyrie Irving (2011), Zion Williamson (2019), and Paolo Banchero (2022).
The Spurs quickly followed by selecting Dylan Harper, setting the stage for excitement at pick No. 3. Speculation surrounded the 76ers regarding their intentions with the pick—would they keep it or trade it for immediate talent to bolster their contending chances? Ultimately, they chose to retain their selection, as did the remaining teams in the top 10. However, in a surprise twist, the Blazers traded their No. 11 pick, Cedric Coward, to the Grizzlies, moving down to No. 16 while acquiring a first-rounder in 2028 and a couple of second-rounders. By the end of the night, four additional trades had taken place.
Here are five key takeaways from the Barclays Center:
Once Flagg’s name was called, another late bloomer in the Draft process made his mark: Duke teammate—and Flagg’s former roommate—Kon Knueppel was selected fourth overall by the Hornets. Just six picks later, Khaman Maluach, the Blue Devils’ freshman center, was taken at No. 10 by the Suns.
This marked the third instance of Duke producing three lottery picks in a single Draft, previously seen in 1999 (Elton Brand, Trajan Langdon, Corey Maggette) and 2019 (Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish), with each of those three also landing within the top 10.
“I’m in awe,” Flagg remarked. “I heard the news about Kon while I was being interviewed, and I just had to stand up and applaud for him—nobody deserves this more than him. He was my roommate last year, so experiencing this together, both of us in the top five, feels surreal. I know how hard he works and how devoted he is. I’m truly thrilled for him and his family.”
That was just the beginning of Cooper’s network connections; four of his Montverde Academy (Florida) teammates from high school—who accomplished a national championship with an undefeated record of 33-0, winning by an average margin of 34 points—also secured first-round spots, with Maryland’s Derik Queen (No. 13) and Georgia’s Asa Newell (No. 23) changing teams as part of a transaction between the Pelicans and Hawks.
Liam McNeeley, a Georgetown wing, was picked at No. 29, moving from Phoenix to Charlotte.
“It’s really rare for a group of superstars to emerge from the same school and all be chosen in the first round,” Queen observed. “I believe Liam and Ace should have gone higher, but everything fell into place for us. There’s a greater plan at work. It’s amazing; while we may not share the court together, we’ll each have the opportunity to compete against one another.”
While unlikely, this phenomenon isn’t entirely unheard of; the 2021 Draft also saw four Montverde products taken among the first 30 picks: Cade Cunningham (No. 1), Scottie Barnes (No. 4), Moses Moody (No. 14), and Day’Ron Sharpe (No. 29).
**2025 NBA Draft: Ace Bailey Poised to Help Jazz Rebuild**
The first four picks of the draft followed expert predictions closely, with Harper, Edgecombe, and Knueppel filling in after Flagg. This left the Jazz, with the No. 5 pick, in a position to take a bold step.
They did just that, selecting Rutgers forward Airious “Ace” Bailey—a choice made amid uncertainty surrounding his pre-Draft visits and workouts. Bailey expressed surprise at being chosen by the Jazz, noting most of his knowledge about Utah revolves around the extreme weather variations.
“I don’t know much, but I’m figuring it out as I go along,” Bailey stated. “I know it can be cold and hot there. Having lived in Jersey, I’m accustomed to the cold, and having come from the South, I can handle the heat.”
Just minutes before, his Rutgers teammate Harper—who was expected to be drafted by San Antonio—had been picked at No. 2. As Harper celebrated his success, he recognized the journey he shared with Bailey.
“I care about that guy, man,” Harper expressed. “People don’t realize the challenges he’s faced, how he’s been talked about negatively. Yet he always meets each day with a smile, regardless of the circumstances. I’m genuinely thrilled for him; his future is bright.”
Bailey admitted he nearly teared up when Harper’s name was called, calling him a brother in spirit. He deeply appreciated having a supportive ally throughout their journey from Rutgers to the NBA Draft amidst the speculation.
“I’m just relieved it’s all behind me,” Bailey said. “Now I’m eager to start playing basketball.”
The first notable shift in the Draft order occurred when the Nets selected BYU guard Egor Demin from Russia at No. 8, paving the way for Collin Murray-Boyles to land with the Raptors at No. 9—both players exceeding their lottery predictions.
Demin, a towering 6-foot-8 point guard with international playing experience, opted to spend a year in college to better adapt to the NBA game. Despite his modest stats—averaging 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in just 27.5 minutes per game—his standout quality is his court vision.
“Passing has always been my forte; it defines who I am,” Demin said. “I view basketball as a canvas for creativity, and I strive to play beautifully and efficiently. It’s important to me to always make the right decision.”
A few picks later, the Blazers took a leap of faith after trading with the Grizzlies (who moved up to No. 11), selecting Chinese center Yang Hansen at No. 16—making him the highest-drafted Chinese player since Yi Jianlian at No. 6 in 2007. This surprised many, including Hansen, who expected to be picked later in the first round.
“After the 15th pick, I noticed more cameras surrounding me,” Hansen recalled. “That’s when I realized something special was about to unfold. Ultimately, being chosen is beyond what I ever imagined.”
Hansen, who celebrates his 20th birthday this Thursday, averaged 16.6 points (with a 58.6% shooting percentage), 10.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game for Qingdao in the Chinese Basketball Association, earning Rising Star of the Year honors for the second consecutive year along with First Team Domestic Player and All-Star selections.
The Nets made history by executing an NBA Draft record of five first-round picks, adding additional guards: French talent Nolan Traoré (No. 19) and Israeli player Ben Saraf (No. 26). They also secured North Carolina wing Drake Powell at No. 22 and Michigan big man Danny Wolf at No. 27.
Seeking to revamp their roster following a season outside the playoffs, the Suns continued their overhaul initiated by the blockbuster trade of Kevin Durant to Houston. They reclaimed their original No. 10 pick, which they used on Maluach. Concurrently, reports indicated they would acquire Hornets center Mark Williams, trading away their No. 29 pick (Liam McNeeley) along with a 2029 first-round selection.
“I’m thrilled to don the Phoenix jersey with my name on it, saying ‘Maluach’ on the back,” Maluach said. “I can’t wait to represent the Suns and hit the court.”
Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game at Duke, showcasing potential as a defensive anchor with the ability to run the floor and room for development. Williams, another 7-footer with Duke credentials, has shown promise—improving his stats across the board in his first three seasons—despite facing injury challenges that limited him to just 106 of a possible 246 games, with a high of 44, and notably failing a trade physical that would have sent him to L.A. at the deadline.
Noa Essengue’s selection by the Bulls marked the fourth consecutive NBA Draft with a French player chosen in the first round. When Joan Beringer was taken by the Timberwolves at No. 17, it ensured a third straight Draft featuring multiple French players in Round 1, completed by Traoré’s pick at No. 19 by Brooklyn.
“I’m overjoyed to be here alongside Nolan and Noa, whom I played with on the national team last summer,” Beringer said. “Being in the NBA Draft, representing France, and making it to the top league is an incredible experience.”
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Ben Couch serves as the director of editorial content for NBA Digital at TNT Sports.
The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
