The Oklahoma City Thunder’s title-winning team included two starters—Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams—both drafted in 2022. Under the leadership of general manager Sam Presti, OKC went from a 24-58 record in the 2021-22 season to winning the NBA championship in 2025, thanks to sharp scouting and strategic draft decisions.
Just days after the finals wrapped up, attention shifted to the 2025 NBA Draft, where the Dallas Mavericks selected Duke forward Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 overall pick on Wednesday night.
Flagg, an 18-year-old from Maine, had long been the projected top pick. He reclassified into the 2024 high school class two years earlier, setting the stage for his NBA journey. During his lone season at Duke, he led the team to a Final Four run while averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists over 37 games.
The Mavericks had just a 1.8% chance of winning the draft lottery in May, but against all odds, they landed the top pick.
Following Flagg, Rutgers guard Dylan Harper went No. 2 to the San Antonio Spurs, while Baylor wing V.J. Edgecombe was taken third by the Philadelphia 76ers. At No. 4, the Charlotte Hornets selected Flagg’s Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel.
The first twist of the night came at pick No. 5, when the Utah Jazz selected another Rutgers product, forward Ace Bailey. Bailey hadn’t participated in any pre-draft workouts, leaving his draft status uncertain. Still, the Jazz took a gamble and potentially a steal.
Later in the evening, the biggest surprise came from the Portland Trail Blazers, who selected 20-year-old Chinese centre Yang Hansen with the 16th overall pick. Hansen was widely projected as a potential second-rounder, but Portland chose to take a chance on him earlier.
Although the draft saw several trades, most did not involve veteran NBA players. One of the most notable deals saw the Charlotte Hornets send centre Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for two first-round picks. Phoenix further strengthened their frontcourt by drafting centre Khaman Maluach with the 10th pick.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets retained all five of their first-round selections and used each one. Reports indicate that all five draftees are expected to join the roster right away.
The second round of the 2025 NBA Draft will resume on Thursday night.
