The 2025 NBA Draft lottery goes to be one of many marquee occasions of the season. For all of the expertise on this draft class, there shall be no drama over who will get chosen with the No. 1 general choose.
Cooper Flagg resides as much as each ounce of hype firstly of his freshman season at Duke. He looks like one of many strongest prime picks of the final decade, combining unimaginable defensive acumen with elite athleticism and a growing offensive ability set. Flagg is the large prize on this draft, however there are many different gifted prospects after him.
That is our first 2025 NBA mock draft because the day after the 2024 draft. There’s already been a whole lot of motion on the board after the primary few weeks of the school season. Staff want wasn’t considered fairly as a lot as general expertise at this stage. Right here’s our newest 2025 NBA mock draft.
1. Washington Wizards – Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
Flagg is a rarity amongst tremendous prospects in some ways, together with that his on-ball scoring is probably the weakest a part of the package deal. As an alternative, Flagg is at his greatest away from the ball, rising because the uncommon non 7-footer to dominate a sport defensively and fill in all of the cracks offensively. It’s doable and possibly even seemingly that Flagg ultimately develops into the type of jumbo main creator each staff needs. For now, he can nonetheless go away his finger prints throughout a sport together with his sensible defensive playmaking, rim ending, passing, and ground spacing. Flagg has splendid dimension and athleticism for an NBA 4, and his sport is already impossibly well-rounded for a 17-year-old. The staff that wins the lottery is touchdown a franchise participant for the subsequent decade.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers
Harper is a jumbo guard who combines scoring punch and defensive upside on the level of assault. At 6’6, 215 kilos, Harper lacks the nuclear burst that usually defines top-rated guard prospects, however he makes up for it with a well-rounded ability set and unrelenting strategy to getting buckets. Harper is a growing shooter each off the dribble and on spot-ups who can create area with step-backs and side-steps. He’s artful as a driver, and might often leverage his large body to assist create scoring possibilities for himself and his teammates. His imaginative and prescient as a playmaker is extra stable than spectacular, however he ought to rating sufficient to make up for it. Harper may actually hound smaller guards on the perimeter defensively, the place he makes use of his size to stress the ball and drive turnovers. He’s already extraordinarily polished for an 18-year-old, and nonetheless has loads of upside tied to his capturing improvement.
3. New Orleans Pelicans – Egor Demin, G, BYU
Demin is enjoying in an NBA system for former Phoenix Suns assistant coach Kevin Younger at BYU, and he’s seemed like a tantalizing professional prospect in opposition to a smooth schedule to this point. The 6’9 Russian guard is a gifted playmaker with the scale to see over any defender and large court docket imaginative and prescient. Working pick-and-roll shall be Demin’s bread-and-butter, and whereas he isn’t a fast twitch athlete, he’s nonetheless in a position to succeed as a result of he’s at all times underneath management. Demin’s three-point shot seems to be good off the catch to this point, however will proceed to be one thing to observe. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how his ball dealing with and ending maintain up in opposition to higher competitors, however for now he seems to be like probably the most promising prospects on this class.
4. Toronto Raptors – Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers
It’s going to be straightforward to nitpick Bailey due to his shot choice, however the staff that drafts him is doing so for his potential, not his polish. The Rutgers freshman is simply barely scratching the floor of his long-term upside, however he possesses an abundance of instruments that could possibly be particular even on the highest ranges of the sport. At 6’10, Bailey is an explosive athlete who can hammer finishes on the rim, assault the offensive glass, and thrive in transition. He prefers to play out on the perimeter, the place he’s showcased some exceptional robust shot-making means and NBA vary on his three-ball. Bailey’s course of is usually an journey: he’s a poor passer who doesn’t see the ground significantly nicely. He’ll have to tighten the deal with and add energy to his body. Bailey needs to be thought as a play finisher, not a play creator, however as a younger freshman he’s solely going to maintain getting higher.
5. Utah Jazz – Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Maluach’s mixture of dimension and mobility was so spectacular South Sudan took him for its roster on the Paris Olympics. At 7’2 with a 7’5 wingspan and a reported 9’8 standing attain, Duke’s freshman heart is an absolute large who runs the ground nicely, performs with a excessive motor, and has tons of untapped long-term upside. Maluach is usually a menace in drop protection, and is already blocking tons of photographs for the Blue Devils. He’s additionally a drive on the glass, significantly on the offensive finish the place his size and motor result in further possessions. He’s nonetheless determining his craft as a curler, however he’s showcased stable contact inside up to now. Maluach was taking three-pointers again in Africa, and will probably be fascinating to see if that turns into a part of his sport in faculty. The 18-year-old is uncooked in each his really feel and his ability set, however he has some incredible instruments to construct on going ahead.
6. Charlotte Hornets – Tre Johnson, G, Texas
Up to now, Johnson has a case as one of the best shooter and shot-maker within the class. The 6’6 wing is usually a devastating off-ball scorer with a fast launch and deep vary on his three-point shot. Johnson will even have some incredible flashes of robust shot-making contained in the arc, however he typically appears somewhat too keen to accept these seems to be. He isn’t recognized for his protection, and has no less than competed and seemed competent on that finish to this point. Johnson could not have essentially the most well-rounded sport on this class, however his explosive scoring outbursts and deadly three-point shot will nonetheless make him extremely interesting within the lottery.
7. Detroit Pistons – Liam McNeeley, F, UConn
McNeeley was Flagg’s highschool teammate at Montverde, and rapidly drew his personal NBA hype for his positional dimension, capturing, and powerful really feel for the sport. His dedication to UConn felt like an ideal match of participant and program, and to this point it’s been precisely that in opposition to a smooth schedule to begin the 12 months. At 6’7, McNeeley is an off-ball scorer who will make his dwelling capturing threes, slicing, and transferring the ball to open teammates. He lacks splendid size and athleticism for an NBA ahead, however he seems to have the talents and smarts to make up for it. McNeeley is already capturing the ball nicely from three as a part of UConn’s whirling offense, however will probably be attention-grabbing to see how he stacks up in opposition to extra athletic competitors in convention play.
8. Chicago Bulls – Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois
Jakucionis’ mixture of positional dimension, elite passing imaginative and prescient, rim stress, and capturing upside provides him an opportunity to drive his manner into top-10 discussions. The 6’6 Lithuanian level guard has a case as essentially the most artistic passer on this class. He has a particular means to govern the opposing protection and zip shops, nook skips, lobs, and pocket passes to his teammates for baskets. He’s aggressive getting downhill, and whereas he’s not an above the rim finisher, he’s already proven spectacular craft in attending to the foul line. Jakucionis seems to have a whole lot of confidence in his jumper, with loads of pull-up capturing flashes exhibiting up on the tape from his time with Barcelona. The consistency together with his three-point shot and general scoring punch shall be underneath the microscope, however there are a whole lot of traits right here value betting on.
9. Brooklyn Nets – V.J. Edgecombe, G, Baylor
Edgecombe emerged as a possible top-5 choose popping out of highschool in Lengthy Island for his rim stress and explosive athleticism. His nuclear leaping means has been all around the tape to begin his freshman season at Baylor, however the remainder of his ability set continues to be catching up. The 6’4 guard has an incredible bodily template so as to add abilities on prime of, however to this point his ball dealing with and capturing seem to wish severe refinement. The concept of Edgecombe as a smaller wing who can’t shoot is loads much less interesting than the guard with depraved burst who can explode to the rim like Anthony Edwards. Edgecombe can have his moments of brilliance enjoying for a superb Baylor staff this 12 months, however his inventory will finally hinge on how his perimeter sport develops.
10. Portland Path Blazers – Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke
Knueppel led the EYBL in scoring earlier than arriving at Duke, the place he’s continued to impress scouts together with his polished offensive package deal. The 6’7 freshman has a deep bag of scoring methods at his disposal, with a knockdown three-point shot, tight ball dealing with means, and artful ending with both hand. Knueppel makes use of his energy to make up for his lack of elite burst, however he’ll face a size and athleticism deficit in opposition to prime expertise. For now, his historical past of placing the ball within the basket seems to be attractive sufficient for lottery consideration.
11. Sacramento Kings – Asa Newell, C/F, Georgia
Newell was one other member of Flagg’s highschool staff at Montverde whose superior mixture of size and athleticism provides him apparent NBA attraction. The bouncy 6’11 large man has been attacking the offensive glass and blocking photographs firstly of his freshman season at Georgia. He had a bent to drift at occasions offensively, and must prioritize enjoying with drive across the rim as he will get stronger. His instruments are arduous to return again by although, and that offers him a protracted leash for improvement.
12. Utah Jazz (through Timberwolves) – Nolan Traore, G, France
Traore’s unimaginable play on the Adidas Subsequent Technology Match (basically Euroleague U18s) and spectacular stint at Nike Hoops Summit fueled his top-five hype over the summer season, however the early returns of this season have been extra blended. The 6’4 level guard is ridiculously quick with the ball in his palms, particularly within the open ground. He has good imaginative and prescient as a passer and has constantly posted an help fee north of 40 p.c. He’s not an above-the-rim athlete, and that hurts his ending, which regularly seems to be shaky. The soar shot is basically the swing ability: Traore seems to be incredible when he’s hitting pull-up jumpers contained in the arc and flattening threes off the catch, however his percentages have been poor to begin the 12 months. It’s robust to be an 18-year-old within the prime French professional league, and Traore has largely acquitted himself properly there to this point. He’s more likely to be a lottery choose, however the shot will decide how excessive he goes.
13. Dallas Mavericks – Boogie Fland, G, Arkansas
John Calipari left Kentucky, however his historical past of manufacturing prime guard prospects for the NBA continues at Arkansas. Johnuel “Boogie” Fland is a 6’2 guard who combines harmful outdoors capturing, stable passing imaginative and prescient, and the power to stress the ball defensively. Fland is a shifty guard with the ball in his palms who retains defenses on his toes together with his mix of pull-up capturing and distributing. Whereas he’s not the largest guard, Fland can be a disruptive defender on the level of assault who makes use of who fast palms to drive steals and deflections. He’s going to get loads of checks within the SEC because the season goes on, however for now he’s trying like a lottery choose.
14. San Antonio Spurs – Derik Queen, C, Maryland
There’s a lot extra to Queen’s sport than meets the attention at first blush. The 6’10, 245-pound large man is a bruising inside scorer, however he’s additionally probably the most expert entrance court docket gamers on this class. The Maryland freshman has an elite mixture of ball dealing with and passing for a participant his dimension, leveraging the specter of his scoring to whip passes to open teammates all around the ground. Queen just isn’t but a three-point shooter, and his lack of dimension and explosion for an NBA heart can have evaluators poking holes in his professional translation. Nonetheless, Queen’s mixture of abilities are so distinctive that he has some severe offensive upside if he can enhance his physique and his shot. He seems to be like one of many largest faculty risers to open this season.
15. San Antonio Spurs (through Hawks) – Ian Jackson, G, North Carolina
Jackson is a 6’4 guard who can rating in bunches and compete defensively. The freshman continues to be attempting to carve out an even bigger position in a deep, veteran North Carolina backcourt, however his means to play on- or off-the-ball provides him precious versatility. Jackson was spectacular sufficient on the finish of his highschool profession (he was among the finest gamers on the ground on the McDonald’s All-American sport scrimmages) that I’m high quality projecting him this excessive even when he hasn’t performed a ton but.
16. Indiana Pacers – Labaron Philon, G, Alabama
Philon wasn’t a five-star recruit or McDonald’s All-American popping out Missouri prep powerhouse Hyperlink Academy, however he’s already put himself on the map as a one-and-done first rounder at begin his faculty profession at Alabama. At 6’4, Philon is a great and hard combo guard with fast palms, a robust chest, and incredible consciousness at each ends of the ground. He’s already put collectively nice video games in opposition to prime competitors (Purdue and Illinois) to begin his freshman 12 months, flashing heady passing abilities and spectacular physicality in opposition to older gamers. He’s not an incredible shooter but, however he performs with a successful mentality that groups will win groups over.
17. Brooklyn Nets (through Bucks) – Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina
Murray-Boyles doesn’t have a classy fashionable ability set, however is now on his second season of packing field scores for South Carolina. The 6’8 large man doesn’t actually shoot threes and isn’t a traditional rim protector, however he contributes in so many different areas of the sport that he can nonetheless go away a big effect. Murray-Boyles is a strong finisher inside with nice footwork and a few craft as a driver. He’s wonderful as a rebounder, and at all times appears to know the place to be defensively. There shall be gamers with extra projectable roles on this class, however few are as productive as Murray-Boyles, and that offers him a shot on the lottery.
18. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (through Warmth) – Noah Penda, F, Le Mans (France)
Penda has been one of many largest early risers from the Worldwide class as a thick ahead already packing field scores in France’s prime professional league. The lengthy 6’8 wing reveals all of the traits of a high quality position participant: he’s a superb passer and ball handler for his dimension, he’s proven vital progress as a shooter, and he has a knack for producing steals and blocks. Penda just isn’t an elite athlete and he’s a tad older than a few of his 2025 draft friends by turning 20 years previous in January, however his sport checks a whole lot of containers.
19. Houston Rockets (through Suns) – Noa Essengue, F, Ulm (France)
Essengue is a 17-year-old French ahead who’s already productive within the German league enjoying for Ulm. The cell 6’9 ahead impresses together with his defensive floor protection, means to wash the glass on each ends, and his environment friendly ending inside. He scored 20 factors in a preseason sport in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers this season the place he seemed extra snug capturing from three than he had confirmed thus far. His lack of elite size shall be a knock, but when the shot retains coming round, his robust really feel for the sport may earn him seems to be close to the tip of the lottery.
20. Brooklyn Nets (through Knicks) – Will Riley, G, Illinois
Riley is a strolling bucket. The thin 6’8 freshman confirmed ridiculous shot-making prowess on the Nike EYBL circuit, and that’s carried over to the beginning of his freshman season at Illinois. Riley has superior capturing versatility, with the power to hit photographs from awkward angles with deep vary. The protection shall be a query mark, however Riley can proceed to stand up the board if he reveals progress as a passer.
21. Memphis Grizzlies – Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State
The son of former Michigan State legend Jason Richardson is a fast 6’3 guard with a powerful really feel for the sport and rugged defensive means. Richardson processes the ground rapidly as a passer and driver, and is athletic sufficient to get to the basket and end. He’s carried a low utilization fee to the beginning the season, however he hardly ever makes errors, reveals spectacular physique management as a scorer across the basket, and is bettering his three-point shot. Richardson isn’t extensively projected as a one-and-done but, however he seems to be like a future NBA participant proper now no matter how lengthy he chooses to remain at school.
22. Orlando Magic (through Nuggets) – Drake Powell, F, North Carolina
Powell looks like a particular defensive prospect. A 6’7 wing with lengthy arms and large run-and-jump athleticism, Powell can get skinny round screens, explode off the ground so as to add secondary rim safety, and fly in transition. His offense is unrefined in opposition to a set protection, however a participant like Peyton Watson is exhibiting that elite bodily instruments provides you loads of time to determine your scoring.
23. Orlando Magic – Ben Saraf, G, Ulm
Saraf is a 6’5 level guard from Israel who’s off to a productive begin within the German league. He’s a gifted ball handler and passer who can effortlessly change gears off the dribble to open up passing home windows. He’s exhibiting improvement as a pull-up shooter, however groups will marvel if he can end in opposition to NBA size.
24. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (through Clippers) – Hugo González, F, Actual Madrid
Gonzalez has had the NBA’s consideration for some time as a standout on Spain’s youth groups. He’s an athletic 6’6 wing who competes defensively and makes power performs. Sadly, he hasn’t been in a position to carve out minutes on Actual Madrid this season, and he’s struggled to deal with and shoot when he has gotten a chance. Nonetheless solely 18 years previous, will probably be fascinating to see if Gonzalez can preserve his standing as a possible first-round choose if he can’t get on the ground.
25. Atlanta Hawks (through Lakers) – Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane Bullets
Zikarsky is a 7’3 Australian large who performs a bodily sport across the rim at each ends. The 18-year-old has struggled to carve out constant minutes for Brisbane within the NBL this 12 months, however his flashes of shot blocking and rim rolling with elite dimension for an NBA heart makes him an intriguing long-term prospect.
26. Brooklyn Nets (through Rockets) – Kam Jones, G, Marquette
Jones has taken over as Marquette’s main man this season with Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro off to the NBA, and he’s rising as an early Nationwide Participant of the Yr candidate. The 6’5 guard has at all times been a knockdown shooter, however now he’s flushing out his facilitating to grow to be one of many higher playmakers within the nation. He feels poised for an excellent productive senior season that would make him a first-round choose.
27. Golden State Warriors – Nique Clifford, F, Colorado State
Clifford caught the NBA’s consideration final 12 months throughout a breakout season for Colorado State, and he’s exhibiting indicators of taking his sport to new heights as an excellent senior. The 6’6 wing has at all times made his dwelling on the defensive finish, however he’s made actual strides as a three-point shooter, rim finisher, and rebounder. It’s arduous for a fifth-year faculty participant to go within the first-round, however Clifford has a whole lot of the attributes groups search for out of a task participant.
28. Los Angeles Clippers (through Thunder) – Donnie Freeman, F, Syracuse
Freeman was a part of Staff Takeover’s 2023 EYBL championship staff, and had a profitable senior season at Florida prep powerhouse IMG Academy to earn him McDonald’s All-American standing. He’s oozing with expertise as a 6’10 ahead with a straightforward capturing stroke and stable mobility, however he’s lengthy left evaluators pondering he needs to be extra productive. Freeman’s play hasn’t actually warranted this kind of draft standing to begin his faculty profession at Syracuse, however his dimension and ability set are so in demand within the NBA that it wouldn’t be a shock to see him proceed to rise.
29. Boston Celtics – Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas
Bidunga is an excellent athletic freshman heart for Kansas who will make an influence blocking photographs and ending dunks on the rim. He hasn’t been getting many minutes but on a veteran Jayhawks staff ranked No. 1 within the polls, however his ridiculous leaping means will preserve groups even when he’s somewhat small for an NBA heart.
30. Utah Jazz (through Cavs) – Carter Bryant, F, Arizona
The Arizona freshman has an incredible body for an NBA wing at 6’8, 225 kilos with a 7-foot wingspan. He shoots a assured ball from deep, and has proven sufficient flashes when it comes to his ending and protection that he’s in line to probably be a one-and-done with a robust freshman season.