The 2025 NBA Draft night was the premier event of the offseason. With some of the most talented young athletes in the world kicking off their professional careers in the NBA, we specifically take a look at the top 10 picks in the draft and their monumental rookie contracts this season.
The top 10 picks are widely considered to be the most talented group of players in the draft. While assessing their value, the first-overall pick is often given the largest contract, with each following pick receiving a progressively smaller valuation.
In light of this, the 2025 draft saw one of the most highly touted draft prospects in Cooper Flagg emerge as the No. 1 overall pick after being selected by the Dallas Mavericks. With Flagg’s contract topping our list, we rank each of the top 10 rookie contracts from the 2025 NBA Draft.
1. Cooper Flagg (Mavericks) – $62.7 Million
2. Dylan Harper (Spurs) – $56.1 Million
3. VJ Edgecomb (76ers) – $50.4 Million
4. Kon Knueppel (Hornets) – $45.5 Million
5. Ace Bailey (Jazz) – $41.2 Million
6. Tre Johnson (Wizards) – $37.4 Million
7. Jeremiah Fears (Pelicans) – $34.2 Million
8. Egor Demin (Nets) – $31.3 Million
9. Collin Murray-Boyles (Raptors) – $28.8 Million
10. Khaman Maluach (Suns) – $27.4 Million
The parity in contract values between the No. 1 overall pick and the No. 10 overall pick is massive. While the difference in values in the early stages is also quite large, the gap becomes relatively smaller as it approaches the tail-end of the top 10.
The NBA Draft is a momentous occasion for newcomers. With an opportunity to display their talents on the biggest stage, a higher pick gives these players a chance at ascending to stardom, eventually seeing them receive a sizeable rookie-scale extension as well. The hype surrounding Flagg is an example of this as well.
Flagg’s $62.7 million contract is an indicator of his potential for becoming a superstar in the future. Should the Duke prospect meet these expectations, there is a likelihood of him signing a five-year, super-max extension worth $359 million in 2029.
The trajectory for Flagg’s career earnings potentially sees him earn $1 billion by the time he is 31 years old. This is an effective template for the other athletes in his class, as well as some of the other aspiring athletes in future draft classes.
As positive as the draft experience was for Flagg, Dylan Harper, and VJ Edgecomb, the same cannot be said for some of their contemporaries.
Ace Bailey was among the most notorious personalities heading into draft night. The Rutgers product refused workouts with other teams in an attempt to drop his stock and land on a team of his choosing. Unfortunately, this effort failed as he was selected with the fifth-overall pick by the Utah Jazz, one of his least preferred destinations.
Collin Murray-Boyles was another player who expressed some disappointment with being selected by the Toronto Raptors, but he eventually made amends by expressing his enthusiasm about being drafted.
The future of all of these players will be decided when the season begins. With a chance to play and thrive alongside some of the best athletes in the world, the rookies will be tested. But before they showcase their talents on the big stage, they will put their best foot forward at the Las Vegas Summer League.
