A participant from France has been chosen No. 1 in every of the previous two NBA Drafts — first Victor Wembanyama in 2023, then Zaccharie Risacher in 2024. That streak ought to finish subsequent yr as a result of, barring a shock, the primary participant chosen within the 2025 NBA Draft will likely be Cooper Flagg, the projected one-and-done star at Duke.
He is American.
He is terrific.
He is been an plain star at the highschool stage (and on the grassroots circuit) for years, a lot in order that I actually do imagine all 30 NBA franchises would take the 6-foot-9 ahead first total if subsequent yr’s draft had been held proper now. Might issues change between now and subsequent June? Sure — and so they usually do. However Flagg is such a well-rounded and high-level prospect that it is tough to think about anyone changing him on the prime of draft boards, particularly if he is so superior at Duke that he retains the Blue Devils close to the highest of the nationwide rankings all season. For what it is value, they’re presently ninth within the CBS Sports activities Prime 25 And 1 preseason school basketball rankings.
As you have possible heard, tanking is not nearly as good of a technique because it as soon as was within the NBA with the lottery odds now flattened; even in case you have one of the best odds to get the No. 1 decide, you do not have good odds to get the No. 1 decide. That acknowledged, #TankForFlagg must be a preferred hashtag subsequent NBA season. The Brooklyn Nets are already headed that course. Anticipate extra franchises to hitch them in due time.
(NOTE: Crew wants weren’t thought-about when assembling this lottery projection as a result of it is inconceivable to know who will likely be choosing the place this time subsequent yr. In different phrases, consider this as a giant board greater than you consider it as a mock draft. The lottery order was set by this previous season’s lottery odds and shouldn’t be thought-about a prediction on how the 2024-25 NBA season will unfold.)