2025 NBA Mock Draft: Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, Kon Knueppel give Duke three freshmen in prime six choices

A wonderful freshman season for Flagg ended within the Last 4 for Duke with Flagg averaging 21 factors, 7.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per sport in 5 NCAA Match video games. He was the perfect participant within the sport this season and is the unquestioned No. 1 participant within the draft along with his high-level defensive instincts and well-rounded offensive talent set. He will probably be a foundational piece for whichever group is fortunate sufficient to land No. 1.

The son of former NBA participant Ron Harper, Dylan is a two-way star for Rutgers. He averaged the fifth-most factors amongst all Large Ten gamers as an 18-year-old (he turned 19 in early March). He is a lead guard prospect with artistic qualities each as a shot-maker and shot-creator for others.

Bailey looks like the least interesting choice for Charlotte of the highest three prospects on this class however the tier break in expertise behind him is simply too massive to move on. He is an enormous scoring wing with unimaginable enchantment as an explosive athlete and scorer.

A gradual upward trajectory for Edgecombe this season is among the many causes to be inspired by his prospect profile. He is proven himself a extra polished passer and playmaker to go along with his distinctive athleticism, all whereas enhancing as a scorer.

The ultimate impression of Maluach at Duke was not a promising one: he performed 21 minutes in a Last 4 loss to Houston and grabbed zero rebounds regardless of his 7-foot-2 body. However his size, motion and shot-blocking anticipation has NBA groups intrigued along with his expertise, and it would not be stunning to see him go this excessive. He’d be a pleasure so as to add subsequent to the younger core in Philly that features Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes.

Knueppel completed as a 40% 3-point shooter and averaged 14.4 factors per sport on a Duke group that received 35 video games and made the Last 4. He averaged 15 factors and shot 55.6% from distance within the NCAA Match and has the instruments to be a plug-and-play scoring guard.

No. 7 is decrease than I anticipate Johnson to fall within the draft, so right here I’ve Toronto grabbing finest participant obtainable in a shock slip. He led the SEC (and all freshmen) in scoring at Texas as a real freshman, averaging 19.9 factors per sport and taking pictures practically 40% from 3-point vary on excessive quantity.

Can a group have *too many* playmakers? I do not imagine so. Even after including De’Aaron Fox final season, the concept of including one other initiator in Kasparas Jakucionis to pair subsequent to star Victor Wembanyama appears too tantalizing to move on. He is a connective piece who performs a selfless model and will assist intensify the abilities of Stephon Fortress, Wembanyama and Fox.

Dillon Brooks should not and will not be the long-term reply for Houston as a starter for its younger roster to completely blossom. I like the concept of including a bodily presence in Murray-Boyles, a real energy ahead, to this group. He is a monster on the glass with a throwback model who could be dynamic on each ends contained in the arc.

Two facilities in two consecutive drafts could appear duplicative after choosing Donovan Clingan in 2024 — however in actuality, Queen’s sport in Portland would assist convey out some shiny spots in Clingan’s sport. He is an old-school large who’s an incredible passer for his dimension and place, and will function an offensive hub to facilitate out of the painted space.

With Kyrie Irving’s ACL tear looming over the purpose guard spot in Dallas, embattled GM Nico Harrison seems to the long run right here in a high-risk, high-reward 18-year-old in Jeremiah Fears. He is an electrical ball-handler with traits of a future star if he can develop into extra well-rounded as a shooter and form up his protection.

It has been seven years since Chicago invested first-round capital into a middle. Wolf could have the expertise worthy of fixing that development given his distinctive guard-like expertise as a 7-footer. He is dynamic as a passer, rated out effectively defensively and has the offensive expertise to match properly subsequent to Matas Buzelis, Coby White and Chicago’s core group.

The son of former NBA star Jason Richardson blossomed this season into an unlikely one-and-done expertise after taking on a beginning spot on a top-10 Michigan State group and elevating it to a run to the Elite Eight. Richardson is a clean bucket-getter who might be a pleasant complement to the contrasting types of Trae Younger and Dyson Daniels.

There is a non-zero probability Clayton winds up changing into the draft’s most dynamic shot-maker. That in itself is definitely worth the lottery choice for the Spurs, who after including a connective piece in Jakucionis can come again right here with a motion shooter. He is coming off one of many extra legendary NCAA Match runs in trendy historical past that culminated with a nationwide championship for Florida.

I would not be shocked to see OKC try to get one other large man in its developmental pipeline for the long run on this class given how deep it’s on the place. Newell is 6-foot-11 with above-the-rim dynamism as a lob menace and shot-blocker, and has shot-making prowess in addition.

Orlando should discover methods to spend money on its offense after an unpleasant first-round exhibiting vs. the Boston Celtics within the playoffs fizzled as a result of a scarcity of firepower. Demin is an distinctive passer at 6-foot-9 who profiles as a real level and will assist elevate the items round him in Orlando.

McNeeley is a winner who provides toughness, passing, taking pictures and vitality as a 6-foot-7 wing who can do some of the whole lot. He performed out of his pure place at instances this season with UConn and was thrust right into a facilitating position, but it surely helped showcase his talent as a downhill weapon who can see the ground and performance within the NBA as a secondary creator.

Powell’s public dedication to the NBA Draft was a nice shock so as to add to the depth of this 12 months’s class. He is a rangy wing defender with elite traits who profiles as a 3-and-D prospect with room to develop.

After including Duke guard Kon Knueppel at No. 6, Brooklyn comes again with one other guard — this another of a real lead guard — in Nolan Traore. He is a top-10 expertise on this class for me and I am bullish on his capability to develop right into a starting-caliber initiator.

Miami investing in one other playmaker this offseason could do effectively for its long-term viability to enhance scoring guard Tyler Herro and ease the playmaking stress off its star. Saraf is an Israeli guard who has acquitted himself effectively abroad as a scorer and playmaker at simply 18 years previous this season, and he is artful in utilizing his smarts to seek out open teammates.

Cooper Flagg flourished at Duke final season taking part in alongside an elite shooter in Kon Knueppel. Utah could be sensible to comply with that blueprint by including one other elite shooter right here like Rasheer Fleming. He shot 39% from 3 final season and rated within the 89th percentile as a soar shooter, per Synergy information.

One other Atlanta decide and one other guard for the Hawks to assist replenish its depth and flexibility within the backcourt. Clifford is a real two-way stud who’s a 3-and-D weapon able to contribute for just about any group along with his talent set.

On a deep Actual Madrid group, Gonzalez stays one thing of a thriller field prospect given his sporadic taking part in time. The concept of him — a prospect whose sport facilities round his scoring capability as an enormous wing — proper now surpasses the truth of him. However he’s a 19-year-old who could be a developmental piece price investing in.

Bryant seems the a part of a profitable two-way wing who can defend and knock down photographs. He hit 37.1% from 3 and rated within the eightieth percentile as a soar shooter in his freshman season at Arizona.

The teammate of aforementioned Ulm guard Ben Saraf, Essengue can also be having fun with a breakout season abroad as a first-round large man prospect. He is made practically 30% from 3 in an enchancment on final season and carved out a big position in a proficient league at simply 18 years previous.

Broome was the clear second-best participant in faculty basketball final season for an Auburn group that spent many of the season ranked No. 1 within the polls. He is improved yearly in faculty and grown right into a dynamic defensive presence who could be additive as a submit scorer, rebounder and 3-point ground spacer.

Riley made an enormous stand up boards on the finish of the season after scoring performances of 24, 27, 22, 21 and 22 amongst his ultimate 15 video games of the season. The 6-foot-8 19-year-old from Canada has nice dimension and confirmed enchancment as a shooter. I like Brooklyn taking a flier on him right here after choosing extra of a high-floor expertise the decide prior with Broome.

There’s more likely to be signifiant curiosity from sensible groups late within the first spherical and early within the second spherical in a younger expertise like Philon, who flashed main potential in spurts at Alabama as a real freshman. He is an thrilling on-ball defender with burst and ball expertise to develop right into a beginning guard. That is exhausting to seek out this late within the draft, even when he is not prepared to take action as a rookie.

Sorber was quietly one of the crucial productive freshmen in faculty hoops this season, averaging 14.5 factors and eight.5 boards at Georgetown. He is a pure scorer inside with smooth arms and a pure shot-swatter on the opposite finish in addition.

Beringer has blossomed right into a legit first-round expertise taking part in for Cedevita this season and has come on robust of late with three double-digit scoring outings in his final 4 video games. He is a fluid mover for his dimension with pure instincts as a middle.