2025 NBA draft
The NBA draft is where dreams are realized, fortunes change, and the future stars of basketball begin their journey into the professional league. The 2025 NBA draft, the 79th edition, was a thrilling spectacle of scouting, strategy, and more than a little luck, unfolding over two suspenseful nights. From improbable lottery wins to groundbreaking rule changes, this draft offered a compelling glimpse into the evolving landscape of basketball talent acquisition. The Dallas Mavericks secured the first overall pick despite having a minimal 1.8% chance, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the NBA draft lottery. New NCAA rules grant college players significantly more flexibility to declare for the draft, participate in combines, and even sign with agents while potentially retaining their college eligibility. The NBA's transition to a two-night draft introduced dynamic changes, including real-time 'green room' invitations and a different pacing for second-round selections.
AI Summary
The NBA draft is where dreams are realized, fortunes change, and the future stars of basketball begin their journey into the professional league. The 2025 NBA draft, the 79th edition, was a thrilling spectacle of scouting, strategy, and more than a little luck, unfolding over two suspenseful nights. From improbable lottery wins to groundbreaking rule changes, this draft offered a compelling glimpse into the evolving landscape of basketball talent acquisition.
- The Dallas Mavericks secured the first overall pick despite having a minimal 1.8% chance, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the NBA draft lottery.
- New NCAA rules grant college players significantly more flexibility to declare for the draft, participate in combines, and even sign with agents while potentially retaining their college eligibility.
- The NBA's transition to a two-night draft introduced dynamic changes, including real-time 'green room' invitations and a different pacing for second-round selections.
A New Chapter in NBA History
The 2025 NBA draft marked the 79th iteration of this annual tradition, a pivotal moment for aspiring basketball players and the teams looking to build their dynasties. For the second consecutive year, the event unfolded over two nights, allowing for a more deliberate pace and increased focus on each selection.
Brooklyn's Big Stage
Both rounds of the draft were hosted at the iconic Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, a fitting backdrop for the drama and excitement that accompanies such a momentous occasion. This two-night format also saw a slight adjustment: the time allocated between second-round picks remained four minutes, a change carried over from the previous year's draft, ensuring teams had ample time to finalize their decisions.
The Mavericks' Miraculous Win
In a turn of events that stunned many, the Dallas Mavericks secured the first overall selection, nabbing highly-touted power forward Cooper Flagg from Duke University. What makes this win so remarkable? The Mavericks entered the draft lottery with a mere 1.8% chance of landing the top pick—a true underdog story born from a coin toss and incredible fortune.
Understanding the Lottery Odds
The NBA draft lottery is a system designed to give teams with poorer regular-season records a better chance at high draft picks, but with a twist of randomness to prevent 'tanking.' While teams with the worst records have the best odds, a lucky bounce can completely reshape the draft order, as the Mavericks dramatically proved. Below is a look at how the odds stacked up for the lottery.
Team 2024–25 record Lottery chances 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th Utah Jazz 17–65 140 14.0% 13.4% 12.7% 12.0% 47.9% – – – – – – – – – Washington Wizards 18–64 140 14.0% 13.4% 12.7% 12.0% 27.8% 20.0% – – – – – – – – Charlotte Hornets 19–63 140 14.0% 13.4% 12.7% 12.0% 14.8% 26.0% 7.0% – – – – – – – New Orleans Pelicans 21–61 125 12.5% 12.2% 11.9% 11.5% 7.2% 25.7% 16.8% 2.2% – – – – – – Philadelphia 76ers 24–58 105 10.5% 10.5% 10.6% 10.5% 2.2% 19.6% 26.7% 8.7% 0.6% – – – – – Brooklyn Nets 26–56 90 9.0% 9.2% 9.4% 9.6% – 8.6% 29.7% 20.6% 3.7% 0.2% – – – – Toronto Raptors 30–52 75 7.5% 7.8% 8.1% 8.5% – – 19.7% 34.1% 12.9% 1.3% <0.1% – – – San Antonio Spurs 34–48 60 6.0% 6.3% 6.7% 7.2% – – – 34.5% 32.0% 6.8% 0.4% <0.1% – – Phoenix Suns (to Houston) 36–46 38 3.8% 4.1% 4.5% 4.9% – – – – 50.7% 28.3% 3.5% 0.1% <0.1% – Portland Trail Blazers 36–46 37 3.7% 4.0% 4.4% 4.8% – – – – – 63.4% 18.5% 1.2% <0.1% <0.1% Dallas Mavericks 39–43 18 1.8% 2.0% 2.2% 2.5% – – – – – – 77.6% 13.5% 0.5% <0.1% Chicago Bulls 39–43 17 1.7% 1.9% 2.1% 2.4% – – – – – – – 85.2% 6.6% 0.1% Sacramento Kings (to Atlanta) 40–42 8 0.8% 0.9% 1.0% 1.1% – – – – – – – – 92.9% 3.3% Atlanta Hawks (to San Antonio) 40–42 7 0.7% 0.8% 0.9% 1.0% – – – – – – – – – 96.6%
The Path to the Draft: Combine and Lottery
Long before draft night, prospective players undergo rigorous evaluation. The journey began in May with the G League Elite Camp, where promising talents vied for a chance to impress scouts. Selected participants then advanced to the main NBA Draft Combine, held from May 11–18 in Chicago, Illinois.
The Draft Lottery itself, a tense moment for fan bases across the league, took place on May 12. This event, where ping-pong balls determine the top picks, often sets the tone for the entire draft and, as we saw with the Mavericks, can lead to monumental shifts in team fortunes.
Who Can Play? Eligibility Rules
The 2025 NBA draft operated under the eligibility rules established in the league's 2023 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with its players' union. These rules define who can declare for the draft and under what conditions, ensuring a structured and fair process for all participants.
Age and Education
A fundamental requirement for all drafted players is age: they must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft. This means players eligible for the 2025 draft needed to be born on or before December 31, 2006. This age limit helps ensure a certain level of maturity and physical development before entering the demanding professional league.
NCAA's Evolving Stance
Since the 2016 draft, the NCAA Division I council has implemented more flexible rules regarding college players and the NBA draft. These changes empower athletes to explore their professional options without immediately sacrificing their collegiate eligibility, marking a significant shift in player development pathways.
Under these updated NCAA rules, declaring for the draft no longer automatically means losing college eligibility. A player can retain their eligibility as long as they don't sign a contract with a professional team outside the NBA, or sign with an agent, and withdraw from the draft by a specific deadline.
NCAA players now have 10 days after the NBA draft combine concludes to withdraw their name from consideration. This extended deadline, typically in mid-May, offers them more time to make an informed decision after receiving feedback from NBA teams. They can also participate in the combine and attend one team tryout per year without losing eligibility.
Crucially, players can now enter and withdraw from the draft up to two times without forfeiting their college eligibility. This flexibility provides invaluable experience and evaluation opportunities, allowing players to truly understand their draft stock before committing to a professional career.
Early Entrants: Testing the Waters
Players not automatically eligible had to formally declare for the draft by April 26. These 'early entrants' then had until a final deadline, typically 10 days before the draft, to withdraw their names if they chose to return to college or pursue other paths. By May 30, 50 early entry candidates had withdrawn, leaving a historically low total of 46 early entrants—32 from the U.S. and 14 international players—available for the draft.
Automatically Eligible
Certain players are automatically eligible for the draft, bypassing the declaration process. This typically applies to those who have exhausted their college eligibility or have reached a certain point in their professional careers outside the NBA. For U.S. players, this includes those with no remaining college eligibility, or those who graduated high school but didn't enroll in a U.S. college and four years have passed since their high school class graduated. It also applies if they've played under a professional contract anywhere outside the NBA.
For international players, automatic eligibility applies if they are at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft (born on or before December 31, 2003) or if they've signed and played under a professional basketball contract not in the NBA within the United States.
The Green Room Experience
A hallmark of the NBA draft is the 'green room,' a special area at the draft site where top prospects, their families, and agents await their names to be called. With the shift to a two-day draft, the NBA has evolved its invitation process, sending out invites in waves to accommodate the extended event.
The first wave of invitations for the 2025 draft was announced on June 10, with thirteen players confirmed. As the draft approached, additional waves of invites were extended on June 16 and three days later, bringing the initial total of invitees to 24, all hoping to hear their name called in the first round.
A groundbreaking move for the 2025 draft saw a fourth group of invitees announced during the second round on June 26. This unprecedented step came after all previous green room invitees were drafted in the first round, upping the final total to 36. This also marked the first time a green room invitee, Izan Almansa, went undrafted, highlighting the unpredictable nature of even the most promising prospects.
The Picks Are In!
Beyond the lottery winner, the draft saw a host of talented players find their new homes. The Philadelphia 76ers selected V. J. Edgecombe as the 3rd overall pick, a dynamic shooting guard from Baylor. The Charlotte Hornets added Kon Knueppel, a versatile small forward from Duke, with the 4th pick, reinforcing their squad.
International talent also shined early, with the Brooklyn Nets selecting Egor Dëmin, a promising point guard from Russia, at 8th overall. Later in the first round, the Boston Celtics took Hugo González, a small forward from Real Madrid in Spain, with the 28th pick, demonstrating the global reach of NBA scouting.
Rnd. Pick Player Pos. Nationality Team School / club team 1 1 Cooper Flagg PF United States Dallas Mavericks Duke (Fr.) 1 2 Dylan Harper SG/PG United States San Antonio Spurs Rutgers (Fr.) 1 3 V. J. Edgecombe SG Bahamas Philadelphia 76ers Baylor (Fr.) 1 4 Kon Knueppel SF United States Charlotte Hornets Duke (Fr.) 1 5 Ace Bailey SF United States Utah Jazz Rutgers (Fr.) 1 6 Tre Johnson SG United States Washington Wizards Texas (Fr.) 1 7 Jeremiah Fears PG United States New Orleans Pelicans Oklahoma (Fr.) 1 8 Egor Dëmin PG Russia Brooklyn Nets BYU (Fr.) 1 9 Collin Murray-Boyles PF United States Toronto Raptors South Carolina (So.) 1 10 Khaman Maluach C South Sudan Houston Rockets (from Phoenix via Brooklyn, traded to Phoenix) Duke (Fr.) 1 11 Cedric Coward SF United States Portland Trail Blazers (traded to Memphis) Washington State (Sr.) 1 12 Noa Essengue PF France Chicago Bulls Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) 1 13 Derik Queen C United States Atlanta Hawks (from Sacramento, traded to New Orleans) Maryland (Fr.) 1 14 Carter Bryant SF United States San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta) Arizona (Fr.) 1 15 Thomas Sorber# C United States Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami via the LA Clippers) Georgetown (Fr.) 1 16 Yang Hansen C China Memphis Grizzlies (from Orlando, traded to Portland) Qingdao Eagles (China) 1 17 Joan Beringer C France Minnesota Timberwolves (from Detroit via New York, Oklahoma City, and Houston) Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia) 1 18 Walter Clayton Jr. PG United States Washington Wizards (from Memphis, traded to Utah) Florida (Sr.) 1 19 Nolan Traoré PG France Brooklyn Nets (from Milwaukee via New York, Detroit, Portland, and New Orleans) Saint-Quentin (France) 1 20 Kasparas Jakučionis PG Lithuania Miami Heat (from Golden State) Illinois (Fr.)
Second Round Surprises
The second round of the draft also held plenty of talent, with players like Ryan Kalkbrenner, a strong center from Creighton, being selected 34th overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Amari Williams, a center from the United Kingdom, went 46th to the Orlando Magic, and Will Richard, a point guard from Florida, was picked 56th by the Memphis Grizzlies, showing that valuable contributions can come from any pick.
It's worth noting that the New York Knicks forfeited a second-round pick due to a free agency violation in 2022, resulting in a total of 59 picks instead of the usual 60 for the draft. Every pick, however, represents a chance for a player to make their mark on the league.
The Art of the Deal: Draft Trades
Trades involving draft picks are a fundamental part of the NBA landscape, with teams constantly looking to retool their rosters, acquire future assets, or shed salary. These deals can happen both before and after the actual draft selections are made, adding another layer of strategic complexity.
Pre-Draft Moves
Many teams engage in intricate pick swaps and outright exchanges in the months leading up to the draft. These pre-draft trades are often designed to consolidate picks, move up in the draft order for a specific player, or acquire future assets. These deals are typically finalized well in advance, setting the stage for draft night strategies.
Post-Draft Decisions
Even after the picks are announced, the trading doesn't stop. Post-draft trades, made once the draft has officially begun, often involve teams exchanging newly drafted players or adding future draft capital. These deals are usually confirmed the following day or after the free agency period officially commences, adding another layer of suspense to the draft aftermath.
Beyond the Draft: Undrafted Talent
While the spotlight shines brightly on the drafted players, the NBA journey doesn't end for those whose names weren't called. Many talented athletes go undrafted each year but still manage to forge successful careers in the league, proving that determination and skill can overcome the odds.
These 'notable undrafted players' often sign summer league contracts, impress in training camps, or develop their game in the G League before earning a spot on an NBA roster. Their stories are a testament to the depth of talent in basketball and the multiple pathways to professional success.
Player Pos. Nationality School/club team Adama Bal G/F France Santa Clara (Sr.) Dylan Cardwell C United States Auburn (Sr.) Moussa Cissé C Guinea Memphis (Sr.) LJ Cryer PG United States Houston (Sr.) Hunter Dickinson C United States Kansas (Sr.) Andersson Garcia SF Dominican Republic Texas A&M (Sr.) Keshon Gilbert PG United States Iowa State (Sr.) Vladislav Goldin C Russia Michigan (Sr.) Chucky Hepburn PG United States Louisville (Sr.) C. J. Huntley PF United States Appalachian State (Sr.) Chaney Johnson SF United States Auburn (Sr.) Curtis Jones SG United States Iowa State (Sr.) Miles Kelly SG United States Auburn (Sr.) Jayson Kent SF United States Texas (Sr.) Caleb Love PG United States Arizona (Sr.) Lawson Lovering C United States Utah (Sr.)
Article
2025 NBA draft
The 2025 NBA draft was the 79th edition of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) annual draft. Like the 2024 draft, this draft took place over two nights. The draft consisted of 59 picks, rather than 60, because the New York Knicks forfeited a second-round pick for a free agency violation in 2022.
The first round of the draft took place on June 25, while the second took place on June 26. Both rounds were held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The time between second-round picks remained four minutes, a change that was made from the previous year's draft.
The Dallas Mavericks took power forward Cooper Flagg out of Duke University as the first overall selection. The Mavericks won the draft lottery with only a 1.8% chance and previously winning a coin toss for a higher placement in draft total odds over the Chicago Bulls, who finished the season with the same record as the Mavericks.
Draft selections
2025 NBA draft
<table><thead><tr><th>#</th><th>Denotes player who has never appeared in an NBA regular-season or playoff game</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>~</td><td>Denotes player who has been selected as Rookie of the Year</td></tr></tbody></table>
Cooper Flagg was selected 1st overall by the Dallas Mavericks.
Dylan Harper was selected 2nd overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
V. J. Edgecombe was selected 3rd overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kon Knueppel was selected 4th overall by the Charlotte Hornets.
Tre Johnson was selected 6th overall by the Washington Wizards.
Jeremiah Fears was selected 7th overall by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Egor Dëmin was selected 8th overall by the Brooklyn Nets.
Collin Murray-Boyles was selected 9th overall by the Toronto Raptors.
Hugo González was selected 28th overall by the Boston Celtics.
Ryan Kalkbrenner was selected 34th overall by the Charlotte Hornets.
Maxime Raynaud was selected 42nd overall by the Sacramento Kings.
Amari Williams was selected 46th overall by the Orlando Magic.
Will Richard was selected 56th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.
<table><thead><tr><th>Rnd.</th><th>Pick</th><th>Player</th><th>Pos.</th><th>Nationality</th><th>Team</th><th>School / club team</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>Cooper Flagg~</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>Duke (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>Dylan Harper</td><td>SG/PG</td><td> United States</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>Rutgers (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>V. J. Edgecombe</td><td>SG</td><td>Bahamas</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>Baylor (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>Kon Knueppel</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>Duke (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>Ace Bailey</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Utah Jazz</td><td>Rutgers (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>Tre Johnson</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Washington Wizards</td><td>Texas (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>7</td><td>Jeremiah Fears</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>New Orleans Pelicans</td><td>Oklahoma (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>8</td><td>Egor Dëmin</td><td>PG</td><td>Russia</td><td>Brooklyn Nets</td><td>BYU (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>9</td><td>Collin Murray-Boyles</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Toronto Raptors</td><td>South Carolina (So.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>10</td><td>Khaman Maluach</td><td>C</td><td>South Sudan</td><td>Houston Rockets (from Phoenix via Brooklyn, traded to Phoenix)</td><td>Duke (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>11</td><td>Cedric Coward</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers (traded to Memphis)</td><td>Washington State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>12</td><td>Noa Essengue</td><td>PF</td><td>France</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>13</td><td>Derik Queen</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Atlanta Hawks (from Sacramento, traded to New Orleans)</td><td>Maryland (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>14</td><td>Carter Bryant</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta)</td><td>Arizona (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>15</td><td>Thomas Sorber#</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami via the LA Clippers)</td><td>Georgetown (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>16</td><td>Yang Hansen</td><td>C</td><td>China</td><td>Memphis Grizzlies (from Orlando, traded to Portland)</td><td>Qingdao Eagles (China)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>17</td><td>Joan Beringer</td><td>C</td><td> France</td><td>Minnesota Timberwolves (from Detroit via New York, Oklahoma City, and Houston)</td><td>Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>18</td><td>Walter Clayton Jr.</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Washington Wizards (from Memphis, traded to Utah)</td><td>Florida (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>19</td><td>Nolan Traoré</td><td>PG</td><td> France</td><td>Brooklyn Nets (from Milwaukee via New York, Detroit, Portland, and New Orleans)</td><td>Saint-Quentin (France)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>20</td><td>Kasparas Jakučionis</td><td>PG</td><td>Lithuania</td><td>Miami Heat (from Golden State)</td><td>Illinois (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>21</td><td>Will Riley</td><td>SF</td><td>Canada</td><td>Utah Jazz (from Minnesota, traded to Washington)</td><td>Illinois (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>22</td><td>Drake Powell</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Atlanta Hawks (from LA Lakers via New Orleans, traded to Brooklyn)</td><td>North Carolina (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>23</td><td>Asa Newell</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>New Orleans Pelicans (from Indiana, traded to Atlanta)</td><td>Georgia (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>24</td><td>Nique Clifford</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Oklahoma City Thunder (from LA Clippers, traded to Sacramento)</td><td>Colorado State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>25</td><td>Jase Richardson</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Orlando Magic (from Denver)</td><td>Michigan State (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>26</td><td>Ben Saraf</td><td>SG</td><td>Israel</td><td>Brooklyn Nets (from New York)</td><td>Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>27</td><td>Danny Wolf</td><td>PF</td><td> United States Israel</td><td>Brooklyn Nets (from Houston)</td><td>Michigan (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>28</td><td>Hugo González</td><td>SF</td><td>Spain</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>Real Madrid (Spain)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>29</td><td>Liam McNeeley</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland via Utah,) traded to Charlotte)</td><td>UConn (Fr.)</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>30</td><td>Yanic Konan Niederhäuser</td><td>C</td><td> Switzerland</td><td>Los Angeles Clippers (from Oklahoma City)</td><td>Penn State (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>31</td><td>Rasheer Fleming</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Minnesota Timberwolves (from Utah, traded to Phoenix)</td><td>Saint Joseph's (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>32</td><td>Noah Penda</td><td>SF</td><td> France</td><td>Boston Celtics (from Washington via Detroit and Brooklyn, traded to Orlando)</td><td>Le Mans Sarthe (France)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>33</td><td>Sion James</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>Duke (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>34</td><td>Ryan Kalkbrenner</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Charlotte Hornets (from New Orleans via San Antonio, Phoenix, and Memphis)</td><td>Creighton (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>35</td><td>Johni Broome</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>Auburn (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>36</td><td>Adou Thiero</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Brooklyn Nets (traded to LA Lakers)</td><td>Arkansas (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>37</td><td>Chaz Lanier</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Detroit Pistons (from Toronto via Dallas and San Antonio)</td><td>Tennessee (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>38</td><td>Kam Jones</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>San Antonio Spurs (traded to Indiana)</td><td>Marquette (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>39</td><td>Alijah Martin</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Toronto Raptors (from Portland via Sacramento)</td><td>Florida (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>40</td><td>Micah Peavy</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Washington Wizards (from Phoenix, traded to New Orleans)</td><td>Georgetown (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>41</td><td>Koby Brea</td><td>SG</td><td>Dominican Republic</td><td>Golden State Warriors (from Miami via Brooklyn and Indiana, traded to Phoenix)</td><td>Kentucky (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>42</td><td>Maxime Raynaud</td><td>C</td><td> France</td><td>Sacramento Kings (from Chicago via San Antonio)</td><td>Stanford (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>43</td><td>Jamir Watkins</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Utah Jazz (from Dallas, traded to Washington)</td><td>Florida State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>44</td><td>Brooks Barnhizer</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Oklahoma City Thunder (from Atlanta)</td><td>Northwestern (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>45</td><td>Rocco Zikarsky</td><td>C</td><td>Australia</td><td>Chicago Bulls (from Sacramento, traded to Minnesota via LA Lakers)</td><td>Brisbane Bullets (Australia)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>46</td><td>Amari Williams</td><td>C</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>Orlando Magic (traded to Boston)</td><td>Kentucky (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>47</td><td>Bogoljub Marković#</td><td>PF</td><td>Serbia</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks (from Detroit via Washington)</td><td>Mega Basket (Serbia)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>48</td><td>Javon Small</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Memphis Grizzlies (from Golden State via Washington and Brooklyn)</td><td>West Virginia (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>49</td><td>Tyrese Proctor</td><td>PG</td><td> Australia</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers (from Milwaukee)</td><td>Duke (Jr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>50</td><td>Kobe Sanders</td><td>SG/SF</td><td> United States</td><td>New York Knicks (from Memphis via Oklahoma City and Boston, traded to LA Clippers)</td><td>Nevada (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>51</td><td>Mohamed Diawara</td><td>PF</td><td> France</td><td>Los Angeles Clippers (from Minnesota via Atlanta and Houston, traded to New York)</td><td>Cholet Basket (France)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>52</td><td>Alex Toohey#</td><td>SF</td><td> Australia</td><td>Phoenix Suns (from Denver via Charlotte and Minnesota, traded to Golden State)</td><td>Sydney Kings (Australia)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>53</td><td>John Tonje</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Utah Jazz (from LA Clippers via the LA Lakers)</td><td>Wisconsin (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>54</td><td>Taelon Peter</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Indiana Pacers</td><td>Liberty (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>55</td><td>Lachlan Olbrich</td><td>PF</td><td> Australia</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers (traded to Chicago)</td><td>Illawarra Hawks (Australia)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><th colspan="6">New York Knicks (forfeited due to tampering violation)</th></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>56</td><td>Will Richard</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Memphis Grizzlies (from Houston, traded to Golden State)</td><td>Florida (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>57</td><td>Max Shulga</td><td>SG</td><td>Ukraine</td><td>Orlando Magic (from Boston, traded to Boston)</td><td>VCU (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>58</td><td>Saliou Niang#</td><td>SG</td><td>Italy</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>Aquila Basket Trento (Italy)</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>59</td><td>Jahmai Mashack</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Houston Rockets (from Oklahoma City via Atlanta, traded to Memphis via Golden State)</td><td>Tennessee (Sr.)</td></tr></tbody></table>
Notable undrafted players
2025 NBA draft
These players were not selected in the 2025 NBA draft, but have played at least one regular-season or playoff game in the NBA.
<table><thead><tr><th>Player</th><th>Pos.</th><th>Nationality</th><th>School/club team</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Adama Bal</td><td>G/F</td><td> France</td><td>Santa Clara (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Dylan Cardwell</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Auburn (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Moussa Cissé</td><td>C</td><td> Guinea</td><td>Memphis (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>LJ Cryer</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Houston (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Hunter Dickinson</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Kansas (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Andersson Garcia</td><td>SF</td><td> Dominican Republic</td><td>Texas A&M (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Keshon Gilbert</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Iowa State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Vladislav Goldin</td><td>C</td><td> Russia</td><td>Michigan (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Hayden Gray</td><td>PG/SG</td><td> United States</td><td>UC San Diego (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Chucky Hepburn</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Louisville (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>C. J. Huntley</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Appalachian State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Chaney Johnson</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Auburn (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Curtis Jones</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Iowa State (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Miles Kelly</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Auburn (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Jayson Kent</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Texas (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Caleb Love</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Arizona (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Lawson Lovering</td><td>C</td><td> United States</td><td>Utah (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Chris Mañon</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Vanderbilt (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Bez Mbeng</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Yale (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Grant Nelson</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Alabama (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Ryan Nembhard</td><td>PG</td><td> Canada</td><td>Gonzaga (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Toby Okani</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>West Virginia (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Norchad Omier</td><td>PF</td><td> Nicaragua</td><td>Baylor (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Sean Pedulla</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Ole Miss (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>John Poulakidas</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Yale (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Julian Reese</td><td>PF</td><td> United States</td><td>Maryland (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Kadary Richmond</td><td>PG/SG</td><td> United States</td><td>St. John's (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Hunter Sallis</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Wake Forest (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Payton Sandfort</td><td>SF</td><td> United States</td><td>Iowa (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Mark Sears</td><td>PG</td><td> United States</td><td>Alabama (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Jahmyl Telfort</td><td>SF</td><td> Canada</td><td>Butler (Sr.)</td></tr><tr><td>Chris Youngblood</td><td>SG</td><td> United States</td><td>Alabama (Sr.)</td></tr></tbody></table>
Trades involving draft picks
Pre-draft trades
Prior to the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between teams:
Post-draft trades
Post-draft trades are made after the draft begins. These trades are usually not confirmed until the next day or after free agency officially begins.
Combine
2025 NBA draft
The 11th G League Elite Camp took place on May 9–11, from which certain participants were selected to join the main draft combine.
The primary portion of the 2025 NBA draft combine was held from May 11–18 in Chicago, Illinois.
Draft lottery
2025 NBA draft
The NBA draft lottery was held on May 12.
<table><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">Team</th><th rowspan="2">2024–25 record</th><th rowspan="2">Lottery chances</th><th colspan="14">Lottery probabilities</th></tr><tr><th>1st</th><th>2nd</th><th>3rd</th><th>4th</th><th>5th</th><th>6th</th><th>7th</th><th>8th</th><th>9th</th><th>10th</th><th>11th</th><th>12th</th><th>13th</th><th>14th</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th>Utah Jazz</th><td>17–65</td><td>140</td><td>14.0%</td><td>13.4%</td><td>12.7%</td><td>12.0%</td><td>47.9%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><th>Washington Wizards</th><td>18–64</td><td>140</td><td>14.0%</td><td>13.4%</td><td>12.7%</td><td>12.0%</td><td>27.8%</td><td>20.0%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><th>Charlotte Hornets</th><td>19–63</td><td>140</td><td>14.0%</td><td>13.4%</td><td>12.7%</td><td>12.0%</td><td>14.8%</td><td>26.0%</td><td>7.0%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><th>New Orleans Pelicans</th><td>21–61</td><td>125</td><td>12.5%</td><td>12.2%</td><td>11.9%</td><td>11.5%</td><td>7.2%</td><td>25.7%</td><td>16.8%</td><td>2.2%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><th>Philadelphia 76ers</th><td>24–58</td><td>105</td><td>10.5%</td><td>10.5%</td><td>10.6%</td><td>10.5%</td><td>2.2%</td><td>19.6%</td><td>26.7%</td><td>8.7%</td><td>0.6%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><th>Brooklyn Nets</th><td>26–56</td><td>90</td><td>9.0%</td><td>9.2%</td><td>9.4%</td><td>9.6%</td><td>–</td><td>8.6%</td><td>29.7%</td><td>20.6%</td><td>3.7%</td><td>0.2%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><th>Toronto Raptors</th><td>30–52</td><td>75</td><td>7.5%</td><td>7.8%</td><td>8.1%</td><td>8.5%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>19.7%</td><td>34.1%</td><td>12.9%</td><td>1.3%</td><td><0.1%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><th>San Antonio Spurs</th><td>34–48</td><td>60</td><td>6.0%</td><td>6.3%</td><td>6.7%</td><td>7.2%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>34.5%</td><td>32.0%</td><td>6.8%</td><td>0.4%</td><td><0.1%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><th>Phoenix Suns (to Houston)</th><td>36–46</td><td>38</td><td>3.8%</td><td>4.1%</td><td>4.5%</td><td>4.9%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>50.7%</td><td>28.3%</td><td>3.5%</td><td>0.1%</td><td><0.1%</td><td>–</td></tr><tr><th>Portland Trail Blazers</th><td>36–46</td><td>37</td><td>3.7%</td><td>4.0%</td><td>4.4%</td><td>4.8%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>63.4%</td><td>18.5%</td><td>1.2%</td><td><0.1%</td><td><0.1%</td></tr><tr><th>Dallas Mavericks</th><td>39–43</td><td>18</td><td>1.8%</td><td>2.0%</td><td>2.2%</td><td>2.5%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>77.6%</td><td>13.5%</td><td>0.5%</td><td><0.1%</td></tr><tr><th>Chicago Bulls</th><td>39–43</td><td>17</td><td>1.7%</td><td>1.9%</td><td>2.1%</td><td>2.4%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>85.2%</td><td>6.6%</td><td>0.1%</td></tr><tr><th>Sacramento Kings (to Atlanta)</th><td>40–42</td><td>8</td><td>0.8%</td><td>0.9%</td><td>1.0%</td><td>1.1%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>92.9%</td><td>3.3%</td></tr><tr><th>Atlanta Hawks (to San Antonio)</th><td>40–42</td><td>7</td><td>0.7%</td><td>0.8%</td><td>0.9%</td><td>1.0%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>96.6%</td></tr></tbody></table>
Eligibility and entrants
2025 NBA draft
The draft is conducted under the eligibility rules established in the league's 2023 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with its players' union.
• All drafted players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft. In terms of dates, players who were eligible for the 2025 NBA draft must have been born on or before December 31, 2006. • Since the 2016 draft, the following rules are, as implemented by the NCAA Division I council for that division: • Declaration for the draft no longer results in automatic loss of college eligibility. As long as a player does not sign a contract with a professional team outside the NBA or sign with an agent, he retains college eligibility as long as he makes a timely withdrawal from the draft. • NCAA players now have 10 days after the end of the NBA draft combine to withdraw from the draft. Since the combine is normally held in mid-May, the current deadline is about five weeks after the previous mid-April deadline. • NCAA players may participate in the draft combine and are allowed to attend one tryout per year with each NBA team without losing college eligibility. • NCAA players may now enter and withdraw from the draft up to two times without loss of eligibility. Previously, the NCAA treated a second declaration of draft eligibility as a permanent loss of college eligibility.
Early entrants
Players who were not automatically eligible had to declare their eligibility for the draft by notifying the NBA offices in writing no later than at least 60 days before the event. For the 2025 draft, the date fell on April 26. Under the CBA a player may withdraw his name from consideration from the draft at any time before the final declaration deadline, which usually falls 10 days before the draft at 5:00 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC). Under current NCAA rules, players usually have until 10 days after the draft combine to withdraw from the draft and retain college eligibility.
A player who has hired an agent for purposes of negotiating with professional teams retains his remaining college eligibility regardless of whether he is drafted after an evaluation from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee. Players who declare for the NBA draft and are not selected have the opportunity to return to their school for at least another year only after terminating all agreements with their agents, who must have been certified.
On April 29, 2025, the NBA announced the 106 players who filed as early entry candidates. On May 30, 50 early entry candidates withdrew their eligibility. By the end of the international deadline, 13 more early entry players withdrew their names from the draft listing as well, leaving only a total of 46 early entrants (32 being players that were born in the U.S. and 14 being born overseas) available for this year's draft. This marked the lowest total of early entrant players in well over a decade.
College seniors
"Redshirt" referred to players who were redshirt seniors in the 2024–25 season and who have college eligibility remaining.
• Cedric Coward – G, Washington State • Omar Rowe – G, Morehouse • Jamir Watkins - G, Florida State
Other
• Muodubem Muoneke – G, Green Bay / Real Betis (Spain) • Isaac Nogués – G, Rip City Remix (NBA G League) • Dink Pate – G, Mexico City Capitanes (NBA G League)
Automatically eligible entrants
Players who do not meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
• They have no remaining college eligibility. • If they graduated from high school in the U.S., but did not enroll in a U.S. college or university, four years have passed since their high school class graduated. • They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBA, anywhere in the world, and have played under the contract.
Players who meet the criteria for "international" players are automatically eligible if they meet any of the following criteria:
• They are at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft. In term of dates players born on or before December 31, 2003, are automatically eligible for the 2025 draft. • They have signed a contract with a professional basketball team not in the NBA within the United States, and have played under that contract.
Invited attendees
2025 NBA draft
The NBA annually invites players to sit in the so-called "green room", a special room set aside at the draft site for the invited players plus their families and agents. Ever since the NBA transitioned itself to a two-day draft as of the previous year's draft, the NBA sends out its invites in waves. The first wave was reported on June 10, with thirteen players confirmed to have received invitations.
A second group of invitees was announced on June 16.
A third group of invitees was announced three days later, raising the overall total to 24 invites.
An additional fourth group of invitees was announced for the second round of the draft on June 26 after every invitee in the prior waves got drafted in the first round, upping the final total of invites to 36. This marked the first time the NBA sent out invites mid-draft. Technically speaking, this also marked the first time a green room invitee went undrafted, with Izan Almansa being invited in this final wave.