The NBA conducted the first round of the 2025 Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 25 (8 PM ET). Top young basketball players from across the country were in the building on what could be the most important and exciting day of their careers so far.
Let’s take a look at what selections were made by each team in the first round. As anticipated, the Mavericks picked Cooper Flagg, the Duke phenom, with the No. 1 pick of the Draft. It was almost certain that they would pick him, as not only was he a clear favorite to be drafted No. 1 overall due to his talent, but he was also the perfect franchise cornerstone for the Mavericks to build their long-term future around.
Here is a full list of players drafted in the first round and which teams picked them.
First-Round Selections
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (F, Duke)
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper (G, Rutgers)
3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe (G, Baylor)
4. Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel (G, Duke)
5. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey (G, Rutgers)
6. Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson (G, Texas)
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears (G, Oklahoma)
8. Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin (G, BYU)
9. Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles (F, South Carolina)
10. Phoenix Suns (via Rockets): Khaman Maluach (C, Duke)
11. Memphis Grizzlies (via Blazers): Cedric Coward (F, WSU)
12. Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue (F, France)
13. New Orleans Pelicans (via Hawks): Derik Queen (G, Maryland)
14. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Carter Bryant (F, Arizona)
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Heat): Thomas Sorber (C, Georgetown)
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic): Yang Hansen (C, China)
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons): Joan Beringer (C, France)
18. Utah Jazz (via Wizards): Walter Clayton Jr. (G, Florida)
19. Brooklyn Nets (via Bucks): Nolan Traore (G, France)
20. Miami Heat (via Warriors): Kasparas Jakucionis (G, Illinois)
21. Washington Wizards (via Jazz): Will Riley (G, Illinois)
22. Brooklyn Nets (via Hawks): Drake Powell (G, North Carolina)
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Asa Newell (F, Georgia)
24. Sacramento Kings (via Thunder): Nique Clifford (G, CSU)
25. Orlando Magic (via Nuggets): Jase Richardson (G, MSU)
26. Brooklyn Nets (via Knicks): Ben Saraf (G, Israel)
27. Brooklyn Nets (via Rockets): Danny Wolf (F, Michigan)
28. Boston Celtics: Hugo Gonzalez (G, Spain)
29. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns): Liam McNeeley (G, UConn)
30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Thunder): Yanic Niederhauser (F, Penn State)
In total, 18 guards, eight forwards, and four centers were drafted in the 2025 class. These picks will significantly alter the look of the teams in the coming season, especially in terms of the number of guards that are entering the league in this class. Rebuilding teams like the Nets have secured their long-term future by drafting multiple young, talented players whom they could either build around or trade for a superstar.
Additionally, small market teams like the Hornets and Jazz have landed exciting prospects in Kon Knueppel and Ace Bailey, both of whom can shoot the lights out on their good days. Knueppel shot 40.6% on high volume for the Duke Blue Devils in the last NCAA season. Meanwhile, Bailey’s more efficient with his shooting in the midrange (46%), but has the potential to drastically improve his three-point efficiency in the league (he shot only 34.6% in his NCAA career).
We also anticipate that some of these drafted players will get traded eventually. The second round of the NBA draft will be conducted tomorrow at the same time (8 PM ET).
