2025 NBA draft: Spherical 1 winners, shock picks, questions
Spherical 1 of the 2025 NBA draft on Wednesday started with Cooper Flagg, the primary of three Duke gamers chosen, being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 1 choose. And it ended with the LA Clippers drafting heart Yanic Konan Niederhauser with choose No. 30.
There have been winners and surprises, such because the Utah Jazz choosing Rutgers guard Ace Bailey with the No. 5 choose and the Phoenix Suns touchdown the top-ranked heart in Duke’s Khaman Maluach at No. 10.
Which fan bases must be proud of what their favourite staff did on Day 1, such because the Miami Warmth touchdown a possible franchise level guard? Ought to Pelicans followers be questioning concerning the commerce New Orleans made to maneuver up and draft Derik Queen?
It is time to break down what occurred Wednesday night time in Barclays Heart in Brooklyn, New York. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo and Kevin Pelton share their winners, surprises and largest questions after 30 picks went off the board in Spherical 1.
Spherical 2 begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, and you may comply with together with our stay Draftcast.
Extra NBA draft protection:
Spherical 2 mock: What we’re listening to
Mavs draft Flagg | Bailey’s shock by Utah
Which commerce earns an A? | Commerce tracker
Finest accessible gamers | Extra draft
Givony: Greatest winners of Spherical 1
The choose: Khaman Maluach (No. 10)
The Suns’ commerce for Kevin Durant seems to be a lot totally different after the autumn of Maluach to No. 10, which helps Phoenix strengthen an important place at heart whereas additionally including some of the gifted long-term prospects within the draft.
Maluach will carry high-level depth, rim-protection timing, rebounding potential and switchable protection — qualities the staff lacked final season — injecting much-needed youth and vitality right into a roster overloaded within the backcourt.
Most significantly, he’s one in every of this draft’s youngest prospects, with vital potential for progress bodily and skill-wise. He’s extremely regarded by coaches and teammates for his off-court intangibles and must be a wonderful pick-and-roll accomplice for Devin Booker, because of his lob-catching potential.
The choose: Kasparas Jakucionis (No. 20)
It was stunning to see Jakucionis — the No. 11-ranked participant on our prime 100 large board — fall all the best way to No. 20.
Any non permanent disappointment over the cash he misplaced was in all probability changed by the belief he landed in arguably essentially the most fascinating state of affairs of any guard prospect on this draft — a staff determined for shot creation and playmaking. He’ll additionally slot in completely from a tradition and toughness perspective.
Jakucionis’ potential to play any of the backcourt positions offers the Warmth vital lineup flexibility when working alongside Tyler Herro within the backcourt.
It would not be stunning to see him finally emerge because the franchise’s future level guard, because of the savvy he shows operating pick-and-roll and his distinctive really feel for the sport.
Givony: Greatest surprises of Spherical 1
The choose: Yang Hansen, heart (No. 16)
Hansen, the No. 35 participant on the ESPN large board, made the largest leap within the first spherical when Portland chosen him at No. 16.
The Path Blazers have been intrigued with Yang since scouting him with the Chinese language nationwide staff on the FIBA U19 World Cup in Hungary in 2023, later touring to look at him play in China, following him in scrimmages in Las Vegas final summer season as a member of the Chinese language senior nationwide staff and dealing him out privately this previous month in Portland.
Regardless of choosing one other 7-footer in Donovan Clingan final yr, the Path Blazers view the draft via a best-player-available lens and say they’re very enthusiastic about Yang’s talent degree and off-court intangibles. They plan to carry him to the NBA instantly to develop him.
The choose: Ace Bailey (No. 5)
Bailey appeared shocked when the Utah Jazz chosen him at No. 5, after clearly making an attempt to maneuver his method down the board to different locations in Washington or Brooklyn. Bailey informed Andscape’s Marc Spears after the draft he had “no concept” the Jazz had been curious about him.
Bailey declined a number of invite requests to go to and exercise privately with Utah all through the predraft course of, in addition to the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3 and the Charlotte Hornets at No. 4, however the Jazz felt they knew sufficient about his recreation and profile to really feel snug drafting him regardless.
New president of basketball operations Austin Ainge interviewed Bailey on the NBA draft mix as a member of the Boston Celtics’ entrance workplace, and the remainder of the Jazz brass additionally interviewed him individually. Ainge scouted him a number of occasions all through the season at Rutgers.
Instantly after making the choose, Ainge informed ESPN: “We actually like him as a participant and a slot in our program.”
What was the very best choose of the night time?
Pelton: Carter Bryant to the Spurs at No. 14. Having spent most of his lone season at Arizona coming off the bench, he won’t assist the Spurs instantly. However down the street Bryant has the type of 3-and-D talent set that ought to ideally match alongside San Antonio’s core of Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, NBA Rookie of the 12 months Stephon Fortress and No. 2 choose Dylan Harper.
Woo: Assuming Cooper Flagg to the Mavericks at No. 1 is ineligible for this designation, I am going to go along with Khaman Maluach to the Suns at No. 10, a choose Givony defined above. It was a terrific end result for Phoenix, and he could be the precise sort of participant they should anchor regardless of the staff goes to seem like shifting ahead.
To spotlight a distinct choice, I am going to go along with Thomas Sorber at No. 15, a match that makes a ton of sense for the Thunder. They had been tipped as a trade-up staff however had been capable of merely anticipate him to fall to them. Oklahoma Metropolis made this choice with the long run in thoughts, contemplating beginning heart Isaiah Hartenstein could be difficult to retain when Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren transfer onto their second contracts subsequent yr.
The Thunder snagged a prospect with the talent set to supply an analogous dimension and somebody whom they are often affected person with over the following season or two. This choose unsurprisingly spoke to the extent of roster foresight with which the Thunder all the time strategy the draft.
1:18
What Thomas Sorber brings to the Thunder
Take a look at what makes Thomas Sorber particular because the defending champs take him within the first spherical.
Pelton: Atlanta getting the higher of Milwaukee’s and New Orleans’ first-round picks in 2026 to maneuver again solely 10 spots from No. 13 to No. 23 is one thing that might loom massive a yr from now. The Pelicans are going to be hard-pressed to make the playoffs in a loaded Western Convention, and the Bucks have draw back threat with Damian Lillard sidelined by Achilles rehab.
The Hawks would possibly find yourself with a greater choose subsequent yr than they gave up this yr. Merely getting a choose within the teenagers can be an unlimited win from a price perspective.
Woo: As Kevin defined, the Atlanta-New Orleans commerce in all probability was essentially the most vital of the night time relating to worth, nevertheless it would not be my favourite, notably from the Pelicans’ facet of issues.
We knew getting into the night time there was an opportunity the Pelicans had been after Derik Queen — and, presumably, the Hawks had been too, one thing they arguably exploited by extracting severe worth from New Orleans with a 2026 first-round choose that was not solely unprotected however is the higher of two totally different groups.
It is laborious to see a simple path for New Orleans as constituted to enter playoff territory, much more so if the staff is planning for Jeremiah Fears and Queen to play main minutes, which they will each want to maximise their growth.
It was a complicated quantity of threat for the Pelicans to tackle, and if Atlanta lands a premium choose subsequent yr, it would sting regardless of how nicely Queen adjusts to the NBA.
Which title contender helped itself essentially the most?
Pelton: Do I get to rely the Mavericks? To be clear, it is unlikely any of the gamers drafted Wednesday will play an essential position within the final two rounds of subsequent season’s playoffs. I might give that a greater probability of taking place Thursday.
Primarily based on that, the transfer which may have essentially the most long-term influence on a 2026 title contender could be the Thunder pushing again the No. 24 choose by getting a 2026 first-round choose from the Kings.
Woo: I am going to preface this by noting that not all that lots of the clear-cut contenders made draft picks — however I did like what the Magic did on this draft, together with their aggressive but measured commerce for Desmond Bane (sending the No. 16 choose as a part of a bundle to Memphis) and permitting the board to fall to them at No. 25, nabbing Jase Richardson.
Richardson would possibly be capable to play off the bench for the Magic early in his profession, and he offers them a probably invaluable (and cheap) depth participant throughout a window by which they’re dedicated to competing on the highest degree with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Am I able to name the Magic a bona fide contender? With the East as broad open as ever, they’d actually prefer to be. They’ve actually performed the offseason nicely to this point.
0:40
Flagg: ‘Coach Kidd has a number of confidence in me’
Cooper Flagg tells Kendrick Perkins how his exercise with the Dallas Mavericks went.
What’s your favourite prospect-team match outdoors of the lottery?
Pelton: Kasparas Jakucionis to the Warmth at No. 20. Former Miami guard Goran Dragic has been my comparability for Jakucionis if issues go proper. They’re each bodily guards with taking pictures potential. Dragic improved his excessive turnover price that restricted him as a younger participant, and Jakucionis should do the identical.
Jakucionis’ dimension at 6-foot-6 will permit him to play alongside both Tyler Herro or Davion Mitchell, presuming the Warmth retain Mitchell as a restricted free agent.
Woo: Joan Beringer to the Timberwolves at No. 18. I am excessive on Beringer’s long-term outlook — it is laborious to seek out facilities along with his caliber of bodily traits who can even run the ground and shield the rim. His age and relative inexperience depart a ton of room for him to enhance.
Attending to develop behind one other Frenchman in Rudy Gobert, who may very well be a invaluable mentor as Beringer makes a significant leap to the NBA degree, may very well be an excellent state of affairs to assist him faucet into his vital potential.
This would possibly take a while to repay, however as Minnesota continues to attempt to construct a winner with Anthony Edwards, touchdown a expertise of this caliber and likewise addressing a long-term want may very well be an actual coup.
True or false: Cooper Flagg will common 20 factors as a rookie.
Pelton: False. I do not suppose scoring will ever be the power of Flagg’s recreation. However on a contending staff with Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson, which may add a shot creator at level guard in Kyrie Irving’s absence? I do not suppose that is lifelike.
Woo: False, however I do not view that as a priority. It relies upon extra on how a lot utilization the Mavs intend at hand him immediately than the rest — nevertheless it’s the well-roundedness of Flagg’s recreation that ought to shine via and make him the Rookie of the 12 months front-runner.
Dallas must be passionate about his outlook with out giving him greater than he can handle.
Fill within the clean: New Orleans giving up its 2026 unprotected first-round choose is ___________.
Pelton: Leaping out of the aircraft and not using a parachute. The Pelicans noticed this previous season what can go unsuitable when accidents strike within the West. They entered the lottery with a 12.5% probability for the No. 1 choose. Think about the feelings in New Orleans if the Hawks are able to win the lottery with the Pelicans’ choose.
Woo: A mistimed choice. It is one factor to commerce your choose a yr out with a transparent path to a playoff spot, or so as to add a participant who might help get you there. It is one other to make use of it to gamble on a rookie — even one you like — with out giving your self any kind of security internet if issues break unhealthy.
I additionally query the match of Queen alongside Zion Williamson long run — two bigs who’re finest on the offensive finish however provide restricted rim safety and no floor-spacing element. I like a few of the gamers on the Pelicans’ roster, however I have been confused with precisely what the general plan is shifting ahead, and that was earlier than they determined to take an unlimited leap of religion.
1:26
The performs that Derik Queen is bringing to the Pelicans
Take a look at some prime highlights from Derik Queen because the Pelicans commerce as much as take him.
The Nets got here into Spherical 1 with 5 picks and ended up utilizing all 5. How would you grade their night time?
Pelton: Most likely a C-plus. Brooklyn appeared to lean closely within the venture path, taking a pair of one-and-done prospects (Egor Demin at No. 8 and Drake Powell at No. 22) along with two teenage worldwide prospects (Nolan Traore at No. 19 and Ben Saraf at No. 26). Michigan heart Danny Wolf, the final participant chosen out of the inexperienced room, was the one choose older than age 19.
I might have most well-liked to see a bit extra confirmed manufacturing. Demin, who ranked eighth, was the one Nets choose to rank within the prime 23 in my stats-based projections.
Woo: I might give them a B. Whenever you make 5 picks, your draft board is unlikely to ever align with consensus, however I can see the imaginative and prescient they appear to have for the roster, and I am fascinated by the way it would possibly work out for them.
The Nets are clearly dedicated to how coach Jordi Fernandez needs to play and loaded up on gamers with positional dimension and passing potential (Demin, Traore, Saraf, Wolf) and likewise took a flier on Powell, who was considered as a possible lottery identify getting into the season and was arguably misused at North Carolina taking part in a number of time at energy ahead.
I do not know precisely how this works out for them, however I respect the best way they approached it, and so they’ll have loads of time to guage all of their gamers subsequent season and chart a course ahead.
Who’re you most shocked to see nonetheless on the board heading into Spherical 2?
Pelton: Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s). At No. 27, Fleming was the best participant within the remaining mock draft by Givony and Woo to not go within the first spherical. Fleming was even larger in my stats-based projections (18th).
Will probably be fascinating to see whether or not groups spend Thursday jockeying to get into place to draft Fleming early in Spherical 2.
Woo: Maxime Raynaud (Stanford). I believed he’d finished sufficient to listen to his identify known as within the 20s, however with all the massive males who had been chosen within the first spherical, together with Yang Hansen’s shock bounce, he was one of many gamers who finally slipped. I might guess there shall be just a few groups looking for a technique to get him early within the 30s.
Extra: Take a look at our Spherical 2 mock draft
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft knowledgeable and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and worldwide groups.
Jeremy Woo is an NBA analyst specializing in prospect analysis and the draft. He was beforehand a employees author and draft insider at Sports activities Illustrated.