What I consider to my highlight of the NBA season has passed and it is time to do some analysis. The NBA draft is an exciting time with its allure, uncertainty and potential for those hopeful players who happen to be involved. It can be a time for jubilation, a chance for change, a cause for confusion, a reason for reflection or – as it generally tends to be – a happenstance of circumstance. Players drafted here have what could be their entire professional career mapped out for them – whether it be the expectations placed upon them, the team tasked with development or the mere accomplishment of becoming a draft pick. Those who dream big have their aspirations answered here; whether that be as affirmation or refutation.

There was truly one player in consideration for the number one draft pick this year. It was the equivalent of Victor Wembanyama in 2023, Zion Williamson in 2019 or Ben Simmons in 2016. This player entered the 2024–25 season with the certainty that he would go first overall and only ever exceeded those expectations. Cooper Flagg was not ever being selected in any other position. The 6’8″ guard-forward was the consensus national high school player of the year when he started his season at Duke and left as the consensus college player of the year. With 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in addition to his 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals, there was no second-guessing if Flagg had the ability to become a consummate professional. He ends up with the Dallas Mavericks who infamously completed what was likely the most consequential NBA trade of all time only four months ago by swapping franchise superstar Luka Dončić for the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis. Now, the Mavericks get the unprecedented opportunity to build around the closest Dončić replacement that might ever exist.

It could have been a great story: two freshman teammates out of Rutgers – which has not had a player selected in the lottery since 1979 – go second and third in the draft. One half of the fantasy came true when Dylan Harper went second overall to the San Antonio Spurs but the other half fell flat. Ace Bailey’s attempt to influence which team drafted him almost succeeded but it was never going to work. Bailey cancelled workouts and told teams he did not like that they should not bother drafting him. He apparently had aspirations of the Washington Wizards at 6 or the Brooklyn Nets at 8 but it was not to be when the Utah Jazz decided he was worth the tantrum at 5. It was a bizarre episode to start Bailey’s professional career and it will be fascinating to see what happens with his commitment to the Jazz. Could it be a repeat of Steve Francis’ boycott after being selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1998 or will Bailey come to a compromise?

VJ Edgecombe, the freshman out of Baylor, gives the ultimate character background development by revealing the circumstances of his early years in the Bahamas after being selected at 3 by the Philadelphia 76ers. Edgecombe admitted to having come from nothing but overcame the adversity to become a top NBA draft pick through the perseverance that he shared with his mother. In another remarkable story, Cedric Coward went at 11 in a trade to the Memphis Grizzlies after a four-year collegiate career that started at Willamette University in NCAA Division III. Coward was the highest senior drafted; an incredible feat for someone who received no major attention when he started his collegiate career.

Khaman Maluach first came to my attention when he debuted for the South Sudanese national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the age of 16. His inclusion was no empty gesture and he showed his potential this season at Duke where he recorded 8.6 points per game on a 71.2 field goal percentage. Selected by the Houston Rockets and traded to the Phoenix Suns, Maluach became the second South Sudanese-born player to be selected in the lottery since Thon Maker of 2016 who was also taken with the 10th pick. Maluach also joined Flagg and Kon Knueppel as three Duke players taken in the draft lottery; the later selections of Sion James at 33 and Tyrese Proctor at 49 meant that the entire Duke starting line-up was taken in the one draft.

The consensus shock of the first round was Yang Hansen at 16 in a trade to the Portland Trail Blazers after he had been widely expected as a second-round pick despite being 7’1″ with playmaking potential. The 20-year-old Chinese centre has played two seasons in the Chinese Basketball Association for the Qingdao Eagles with averages of 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2024, Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 and Young Player of the Year in 2025. Yang can undeniably play but talent has rarely emerged from the CBA; the only two Chinese-born players in the last decade are Cui Yongxi who was undrafted last year and Zhou Qi who had a brief two-year NBA career after being selected in the second round of 2016. Yang becomes the highest drafted Chinese player since Yi Jianlian went 6th overall in 2007. I think that a greater surprise could have been caused by the selections of freshman Carter Bryant from Arizona by the Spurs at 14 after averages of 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds or Joan Beringer from Cedevita Olimpija of Slovenia by the Minnesota Timberwolves at 17 with 4.9 points and 4.1 rebounds.

The Brooklyn Nets selected four players in the first round and traded none in an unexpected haul. There was a distinct international flavour: Russian Egor Demin at 8, French Nolan Traoré at 19, and Israelis Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf at 26 and 27 respectively. The prominence of French prospects also continues with 6 players (up from 5 last year) drafted: Noa Essengue at 12, Joan Beringer at 17, the aforementioned Traoré at 19, Noah Penda at 32, Maxime Raynaud at 42 and Mohamed Diawara at 51. The Australians completed a great showing as well with a total of 4 selections: Rocco Zikarsky at 45, Tyrese Proctor at 49, Alex Toohey at 52 and Lachlan Olbrich at 55.

59 players have the beginnings of their NBA careers carved into history. Now we get to see who does what with what they are given. Entire careers, trajectories and lifetimes find their alteration here.

2025 NBA draft selections

1. Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
   SG/F, Duke – Freshman
   19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.4 steals, 48.1% field goal, 38.5% three-point, 84.0% free throw
2. Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
   SG/PG, Rutgers – Freshman
   19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, .6 blocks, 1.4 steals, 48.4% field goal, 33.3% three-point, 75.0% free throw
3. VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
   SG, Baylor – Freshman
   15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, .6 blocks, 2.1 steals, 43.6% field goal, 34.0% three-point, 78.2% free throw
4. Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
   SG/SF, Duke – Freshman
   14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, .2 blocks, 1.0 steals, 47.9% field goal, 40.6% three-point, 91.4% free throw
5. Ace Bailey (Utah Jazz)
   SG, Rutgers – Freshman
   17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, 1.0 steals, 46.0% field goal, 34.6% three-point, 69.2% free throw
6. Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)
   PG, Texas – Freshman
   19.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, .3 blocks, .9 steals, 42.% field goal, 39.7% three-point, 87.1% free throw
7. Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
   PG, Oklahoma – Freshman
   17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, .1 blocks, 1.6 steals, 43.4% field goal, 28.4% three-point, 85.1% free throw
8. Egor Demin (Brooklyn Nets)
   PG, BYU – Freshman
   10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, .4 blocks, 1.2 steals, 41.2% field goal, 27.3% three-point, 69.5% free throw
9. Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)
   PF, South Carolina – Sophomore
   16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 blocks, 1.5 steals, 58.6% field goal, 26.5% three-point, 70.7% free throw
10. Khaman Maluach (Houston Rockets from Phoenix via Brooklyn – traded to Phoenix Suns)
    C, Duke – Freshman
    8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, .5 assists, 1.3 blocks, .2 steals, 71.2% field goal, 25.0% three-point, 76.6% free throw
11. Cedric Coward (Portland Trail Blazers – traded to Memphis Grizzlies)
    SF, Washington State – Senior
    17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 blocks, .8 steals, 55.7% field goal, 40.0% three-point, 83.9% free throw
12. Noa Essengue (Chicago Bulls)
    PF, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany – Basketball Bundesliga)
    12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, .6 blocks, 1.4 steals, 56.0% field goal, 29.4% three-point, 73.0% free throw
13. Derik Queen (Atlanta Hawks from Sacramento – traded to New Orleans Pelicans)
    C, Maryland – Freshman
    16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.1 steals, 52.6% field goal, 20.0% three-point, 76.6% free throw
14. Carter Bryant (San Antonio Spurs from Atlanta)
    SF, Arizona – Freshman
    6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, .9 steals, 46.0% field goal, 37.1% three-point, 69.5% free throw
15. Thomas Sorber (Oklahoma City Thunder from Miami via L.A. Clippers)
    C, Georgetown – Freshman
    14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks, 1.5 steals, 53.2% field goal, 16.2% three-point, 72.4% free throw
16. Yang Hansen (Memphis Grizzlies from Orlando – traded to Portland Trail Blazers)
    C, Qingdao Eagles (China – Chinese Basketball Association)
    16.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.6 blocks, 1.0 steals, 58.5% field goal, 33.3% three-point, 67.1% free throw
17. Joan Beringer (Minnesota Timberwolves from Detroit via New York, Oklahoma City and Houston)
    C, Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia – ABA League)
    4.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, .5 assists, 1.5 blocks, .5 steals, 59.4% field goal, 0.0% three-point, 59.6% free throw
18. Walter Clayton Jr. (Washington Wizards from Memphis)
    PG, Florida – Senior
    18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, .5 blocks, 1.2 steals, 44.8% field goal, 38.6% three-point, 87.5% free throw
19. Nolan Traoré (Brooklyn Nets from Milwaukee via New York, Detroit, Portland and New Orleans)
    PG, Saint-Quentin (France – LNB Élite)
    11.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, .1 blocks, .7 steals, 39.2% field goal, 30.4% three-point, 71.0% free throw
20. Kasparas Jakučionis (Miami Heat from Golden State)
    PG, Illinois – Freshman
    15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, .3 blocks, .9 steals, 44.0% field goal, 31.8% three-point, 84.5% free throw
21. Will Riley (Utah Jazz from Minnesota)
    SF, Illinois – Freshman
    12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, .3 blocks, .3 steals, 43.2% field goal, 32.6% three-point, 72.4% free throw
22. Drake Powell (Atlanta Hawks from L.A. Lakers via New Orleans)
    SG, North Carolina – Freshman
    7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, .7 blocks, .7 steals, 48.3% field goal, 37.9% three-point, 64.8% free throw
23. Asa Newell (New Orleans Pelicans from Indiana – traded to Atlanta Hawks)
    PF, Georgia – Freshman
    15.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, .9 assists, 1.0 blocks. 1.0 steals, 54.3% field goal, 29.2% three-point, 74.8% free throw
24. Nique Clifford (Oklahoma City Thunder from L.A. Clippers – traded to Sacramento Kings)
    SG, Colorado State – Senior
    18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, .6 blocks, 1.2 steals, 49.6% field goal, 37.7% three-point, 77.7% free throw
25. Jase Richardson (Orlando Magic from Denver)
    SG, Michigan State – Freshman
    12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .3 blocks, .8 steals, 49.3% field goal, 41.2% three-point, 83.6% free throw
26. Ben Saraf (Brooklyn Nets from New York)
    SG, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany – Basketball Bundesliga)
    11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, .4 blocks, 1.1 steals, 46.3% field goal, 33.8% three-point, 71.4% free throw
27. Danny Wolf (Brooklyn Nets from Houston)
    PF, Michigan – Junior
    13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, .7 steals, 49.7% field goal, 33.6% three-point, 59.4% free throw
28. Hugo González (Boston Celtics)
    SF, Real Madrid (Spain – Liga ACB)
    5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, .9 assists, .3 blocks, .5 steals, 44.4% field goal, 27.1% three-point, 77.3% free throw
29. Liam McNeeley (Phoenix Suns from Cleveland via Utah – traded to Charlotte Hornets)
    SF, UConn – Freshman
    14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, .2 blocks, .6 steals, 38.1% field goal, 31.7% three-point, 86.6% free throw
30. Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Los Angeles Clippers from Oklahoma City)
    C, Penn State – Junior
    12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, .8 assists, 2.3 blocks, .7 steals, 61.1% field goal, 9.1% three-point, 66.4% free throw
31. Rasheer Fleming (Minnesota Timberwolves from Utah – traded to Phoenix Suns)
    PF, Saint Joseph’s – Junior
    14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 steals, 53.1% field goal, 39.0% three-point, 74.3% free throw
32. Noah Penda (Boston Celtics from Washington via Detroit and Brooklyn – traded to Charlotte Hornets)
    SF, Le Mans Sarthe (France, LNB Élite)
    10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, .9 blocks, 1.4 steals, 44.3% field goal, 31.3% three-point, 69.2% free throw
33. Sion James (Charlotte Hornets)
    SG, Duke – Senior
    8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, .3 blocks, .8 steals, 51.6% field goal, 41.3% three-point, 81.0% free throw
34. Ryan Kalkbrenner (Charlotte Hornets from New Orleans via San Antonio, Phoenix and Memphis)
    C, Creighton – Senior
    19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.7 blocks, .5 steals, 65.3% field goal, 34.4% three-point, 68.1% free throw
35. Johni Broome (Philadelphia 76ers)
    PF/C, Auburn – Senior
    18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.1 blocks, .9 steals, 51.0% field goal, 27.8% three-point, 58.7% free throw
36. Adou Thiero (Phoenix Suns from Brooklyn – traded to Los Angeles Lakers)
    SF, Arkansas – Junior
    15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .7 blocks, 1.6 steals, 54.5% field goal, 25.6% three-point, 68.6% free throw
37. Chaz Lanier (Detroit Pistons from Toronto via Dallas and San Antonio)
    SG, Tennessee – Senior
    18.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, .1 blocks, .9 steals, 43.1% field goal, 39.5% three-point, 75.8% free throw
38. Kam Jones (San Antonio Spurs – traded to Indiana Pacers)
    SG, Marquette – Senior
    19.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, .3 blocks, 1.4 steals, 48.3% field goal, 31.1% three-point, 64.8% free throw
39. Alijah Martin (Toronto Raptors from Portland via Sacramento)
    SG, Florida – Senior
    14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, .2 blocks, 1.5 steals, 45.2% field goal, 35.0% three-point, 76.1% free throw
40. Micah Peavy (Washington Wizards from Phoenix – traded to New Orleans Pelicans)
    SF, Georgetown – Senior
    17.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, .5 blocks, 2.3 steals, 48.1% field goal, 40.0% three-point, 65.9% free throw
41. Koby Brea (Golden State Warriors from Miami via Brooklyn and Indiana – traded to Phoenix Suns)
    SG, Kentucky – Senior
    11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, .3 blocks, .3 steals, 47.0% field goal, 43.5% three-point, 91.4% free throw
42. Maxime Raynaud (Sacramento Kings from Chicago via San Antonio)
    C, Stanford – Senior
    20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks, .9 steals, 46.7% field goal, 34.7% three-point, 77.0% free throw
43. Jamir Watkins (Utah Jazz from Dallas)
    SG, Florida State – Senior
    18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, .5 blocks, 1.2 steals, 42.7% field goal, 32.1% three-point, 74.7% free throw
44. Brooks Barnhizer (Oklahoma City Thunder from Atlanta)
    SG, Northwestern – Senior
    17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.1 blocks, 2.3 steals, 41.4% field goal, 26.6% three-point, 76.4% free throw
45. Rocco Zikarsky (Chicago Bulls from Sacramento – traded to Minnesota Timberwolves)
    C, Brisbane Bullets (Australia – National Basketball League)
    4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, .3 assists, .6 blocks, .3 steals, 52.4% field goal, 20.0% three-point, 57.1% free throw
46. Amari Williams (Orlando Magic – traded to Boston Celtics)
    C, Kentucky – Senior
    10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, .6 steals, 56.1% field goal, 25.0% three-point, 62.3% free throw
47. Bogoljub Marković (Milwaukee Bucks from Detroit via Washington)
    PF, Mega Basket (Serbia – ABA League)
    13.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, .8 blocks, .8 steals, 53.8% field goal, 37.0% three-point, 76.0% free throw
48. Javon Small (Memphis Grizzlies from Golden State via Washington and Brooklyn)
    PG, West Virginia – Senior
    18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, .3 blocks, 1.5 steals, 41.8% field goal, 35.3% three-point, 88.0% free throw
49. Tyrese Proctor (Cleveland Cavaliers from Milwaukee)
    PG, Duke – Junior
    12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, .1 blocks, .8 steals, 45.2% field goal, 40.5% three-point, 68.0% free throw
50. Kobe Sanders (New York Knicks from Memphis via Oklahoma City and Boston – traded to Los Angeles Clippers)
    SG, Nevada – Senior
    15.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, .3 blocks, 1.1 steals, 46.0% field goal, 34.2% three-point, 79.5% free throw
51. Mohamed Diawara (Los Angeles Clippers from Minnesota via Atlanta and Houston – traded to New York Knicks)
    PF, Cholet Basket (LNB Pro A)
    5.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, .1 blocks, .6 steals, 38.3% field goal, 31.0% three-point, 48.8% free throw
52. Alex Toohey (Phoenix Suns from Denver via Charlotte and Minnesota – traded to Golden State Warriors)
    SF, Sydney Kings (Australia – National Basketball League)
    10.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, .8 blocks, 1.4 steals, 44.9% field goal, 31.0% three-point, 72.6% free throw
53. John Tonje (Utah Jazz from L.A. Clippers via L.A. Lakers)
    SG, Wisconsin – Senior
    19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, .2 blocks, .7 steals, 46.5% field goal, 38.8% three-point, 90.9% free throw
54. Taelon Peter (Indiana Pacers)
    SG, Liberty – Senior
    13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, .1 blocks, .9 steals, 57.8% field goal, 45.3% three-point, 77.3% free throw
55. Lachlan Olbrich (Los Angeles Lakers – traded to Chicago Bulls)
    PF, Illawarra Hawks (Australia – National Basketball League)
    8.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, .6 blocks, .4 steals, 60.2% field goal, 9.1% three-point, 55.7% free throw
56. Will Richard (Memphis Grizzlies from Houston – traded to Golden State Warriors)
    SG, Florida – Senior
    13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .3 blocks, 1.7 steals, 48.7% field goal, 35.9% three-point, 84.4% free throw
57. Max Shulga (Orlando Magic from Boston – traded to Boston Celtics)
    SG, VCU – Senior
    15.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, .1 blocks, 1.8 steals, 43.5% field goal, 38.7% three-point, 78.3% free throw
58. Saliou Niang (Cleveland Cavaliers)
    SG, Aquila Basket Trento (Italy – Lega Basket Serie A)
    8.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, .1 blocks, .6 steals, 53.2% field goal, 33.3% three-point, 71.2% free throw
59. Jahmai Mashack (Houston Rockets from Oklahoma City via Atlanta – traded to Memphis Grizzlies)
    SG, Tennessee – Senior
    6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, .5 blocks, 1.7 steals, 45.4% field goal, 35.1% three-point, 72.3% free throw