The 2025 NBA draft will mark my twenty third straight yr sitting on the primary desk for ESPN. In all of these years, there have been hits and misses, we have been proper and flawed, however yearly, I achieve extra respect for the method. After I first began, after spending lengthy hours on participant evaluations, I in all probability thought I knew which prospects would hit. I rapidly discovered that I did not know. No person is aware of.
All anybody does is “consider.” Fingers up all for any of those that thought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a future MVP when he was drafted No. 11 out of Kentucky? What number of pegged Jalen Brunson as All-NBA and Clutch Participant of the 12 months when he got here out of Villanova? Nearly each draft, we are going to look again in 5 years and rank the gamers far in a different way than on draft evening. Perhaps that’s true in each sport, however it’s very true in basketball, the place selections are made on brief observe data of 18- and 19-year-olds.
Gamers stand out in each draft. There are by no means ensures — although this yr’s draft (Wednesday and Thursday nights, 8 ET on ABC and ESPN) has as near a positive factor as we have seen in a very long time — however if you see one thing from these gamers, they make you a believer. Listed here are just a few on this draft whom I actually like.
The no-brainer
That is the Cooper Flagg Draft. If any of the 30 NBA groups had the highest decide within the 2025 draft lottery, all 30 would take Flagg and by no means look again. Flagg is the perfect Duke freshman ever and essentially the most full participant on this draft.
Although Flagg has room to enhance in sure areas, no different participant checks as many bins. Few gamers I’ve scouted over the previous 30 years are as proficient in as many areas as Flagg. He’s a legit 6-8 with a 7-0 wingspan. He’s athletic, lengthy, can transfer his toes laterally and has good pace. Defensively, he has nice consciousness, will get steals and blocks, and is excellent on the glass. Flagg is an elite transition finisher and playmaker. He’s a terrific driver and finisher, and a very good cutter.
The knock on him early was his taking pictures … is he a constant perimeter shooter? Throughout ACC play, Flagg shot 44% from deep and nearly 39% final season. Can he tighten up his deal with? Sure, however his shot is hardly an issue; it simply is not the lead story.
Flagg has All-NBA potential, and I consider that he’ll attain it. So long as he stays wholesome, he won’t fail within the NBA. He’s simply totally different. Placing apart the talents and measurable traits, Flagg is among the best gamers I’ve seen at this age. Sure, numerous prospects are aggressive, however this man is on the very best tier of opponents. At solely 18, Flagg is mature past his years — far past most 22-year-old prospects on this draft.
Flagg doesn’t go right into a sport searching for numbers. As a substitute, he strives to make the proper play — and by stacking the proper play time and again, he places up spectacular numbers throughout the board.
The shooters
This draft has its share of fantastic shooters, and freshmen entries Tre Johnson of Texas and Kon Knueppel of Duke cleared the path.
Johnson is the higher shotmaker and athlete. With a 6-10 wingspan, he led the SEC in scoring at 19.9 factors per sport and shot 39.7% from past the arc, hitting 89 3-pointers final season.
Regardless of his size and bodily traits, Johnson didn’t have the anticipated defensive affect, however his pace and agility will serve him properly within the NBA. Knueppel is the perfect catch-and-shoot guard within the draft.
He hit nearly 41% from deep as a freshman in Durham, N.C., making 84 3s. Final season, Knueppel hit 48% on nook 3s, and canned 91.4% of his free throws. Kneuppel’s protection and bodily instruments are the questions. However although Kneuppel is unlikely to be named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Staff, he is not a pushover and is at all times getting free balls.
The three-and-D guys
Size appears to translate properly to the NBA, and its significance can’t be overstated. A participant who can guard a number of positions, change, disrupt and get deflections, steals and blocks can discover taking part in time for any NBA crew. Add in a dependable perimeter shot, and you might be much more priceless. This yr, three 3-and-D guys are considerably beneath the radar however will likely be coveted on draft evening.
Carter Bryant of Arizona, Rasheer Fleming of Saint Joseph’s and Cedric Coward of Washington State are essentially the most tantalizing prospects on this priceless class. Bryant is predicted to be first off the board among the many three. Bryant, 19, is an excellent athlete who completed within the high 5 in vertical leap and dash time on the mix. He has dimension and spectacular size and might hit a standstill 3-pointer. Nearly half of his factors final season got here from made 3s, and 82% of his shot makes an attempt had been catch-and-shoot 3s or finishes on the rim.
Fleming, 20, has nice versatility and a 7-5 wingspan. He is a multi-positional defender and ground spacer who hit 62 3s on 39% taking pictures. His shot preparation is sweet, he can actually change ends, and he is an excellent rebounder.
Coward is the thriller man. After beginning his profession as a Division III participant, he transferred to Jap Washington, then to Washington State. Coward performed solely six video games in Pullman, however he scored 20 or extra in three, together with 30 factors in opposition to Northern Colorado. Coward shouldn’t be as tall as Fleming, however he is acquired a 7-2 wingspan, pace, power and nice instincts on each ends of the ground. Coward was terrific on the mix, ending within the high 6 within the dash, vertical leap and standing vertical leap.
The wild playing cards
Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey would go No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, if expertise and upside potential had been the one variables. However the two finest prospects after Flagg performed collectively at Rutgers and had a shedding document. The Scarlet Knights went 15-17 and 8-12 within the Large Ten. Although it’s truthful to query why neither contributed extra to profitable, particularly with a proficient level guard in Harper, I doubt the crew’s document will issue into the draft place of both prospect.
Harper is the second-best prospect on this draft — a long-armed, three-level scorer who’s a cultured offensive participant with nice footwork and a shot creator. Harper is excellent in pick-and-roll conditions and makes nice reads. He isn’t a constant deep shooter, hitting solely 33% from 3-point distance, however he has good mechanics. He’s a employee, however not but an impactful defender, regardless of his size and physique.
Bailey is among the high-risk, high-reward guys within the draft. Few have a better ceiling and few can match his shotmaking capability, particularly robust, pull-up jumpers beneath stress. Bailey had 39 factors in opposition to Indiana and 38 in opposition to Northwestern. Bailey has confronted questions on his maturity, however he’s simply 18 years previous, and his expertise is simple. With Harper’s expertise and ability profile, no person passes him up at No. 2 — not even San Antonio, which wants taking pictures, one thing Harper doesn’t present. Bailey ought to comply with him shortly, going wherever from No. 3 to No. 8.
