The newest NBA champions have been topped with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder going all the way in which in an epic seven-game sequence.
Now, consideration turns to the draft with 4 Australians anticipated to get picked whereas Duke phenom Cooper Flagg is predicted to have his title referred to as at first total.
Watch dwell protection of the 2025 NBA Draft with ESPN on Kayo Sports activities | New to Kayo? Get your first month for simply $1. Restricted time supply.
Right here, foxsports.com.au seems to be in any respect the important thing data it’s good to know forward of the draft, together with a couple of storylines to observe.
WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS SAYING ABOUT NO.1 PICK COOPER FLAGG?
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie: “It’s laborious to overstate how optimistic the intel is on Flagg throughout the board. He was an elite employee and a direct chief for Duke from day one. Duke’s teaching employees famous that he fully modified the tenor of even practices from the second he arrived. He’ll be prepared for all of the strain that comes with being a franchise cornerstone instantly within the NBA. Flagg has an amazing mix of ceiling and flooring. His talent degree, enchancment as a shooter, defence and total competitiveness make him about as protected a prospect as you could find. Nevertheless, he additionally has some very high-end potential outcomes that might end in him turning right into a top-five participant within the league.”
The Ringer’s Kyle Mann: “Flagg is the large prize of the 2025 draft, however he’s additionally only a hardwood pup — he turned 18 years previous in late December and reclassified two summers in the past to enter school a 12 months early. He doesn’t but have one elite talent, however his means to do a bunch of issues nicely places him in rarefied air. He’s a twitchy, lengthy, and bouncy athlete, but he probably received’t break the dimensions in anyone class. He additionally doesn’t have a major weak spot. So even when a group already has a high-usage prospect in place, Flagg probably received’t wrestle to search out his means — actually, he tasks as the kind of participant who will elevate superstars to a different degree.”
Yahoo Sports activities’ Kevin O’Connor: “Flagg is a do-it-all ahead who hustles like a madman, makes his teammates higher as a passer, and has dialed in a knockdown jumper. He’s each one of the best offensive and defensive prospect on this draft class, making him the most secure No. 1 decide in ages. It’s his development as a shot creator that can determine if he reaches his All-Star flooring or soars to his Corridor of Fame ceiling.”
AND WHAT ABOUT THE DRAMA SURROUNDING THE PROJECTED NO.3 PICK?
Properly, Rutgers star Ace Bailey put the league on discover with an influence play.
The previous Rutgers ahead abruptly cancelled his scheduled Saturday exercise with the Philadelphia 76ers, who’re slated to select No. 3 total, in keeping with ESPN’s Draft Categorical.
Bailey is now the one U.S.-based prospect to not meet with a single group, having declined invites from a number of franchises in his projected draft vary.
He’s anticipated to be a lottery decide and a doable top-three choice.
Draft Categorical studies that the Sixers haven’t dominated out choosing Bailey at No. 3, which is his projected draft slot in keeping with most specialists, regardless of this shocking growth.
The Wizards (No. 6), Pelicans (No. 7), and Nets (No. 8) are all anticipated to be aggressive in shifting up for Bailey come Wednesday’s draft.
Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz additionally choose No. 5 total and could possibly be within the combine.
The Hornets decide fourth, however prospects have reportedly refused to work out for the group resulting from an absence of curiosity in taking part in with LaMelo Ball.
A earlier report added that Bailey’s camp knowledgeable groups that they imagine he’s a top-three participant, however in addition they “search a transparent pathway to stardom.”
The Draft Categorical report added that Bailey might really feel comfy going to a special group later within the draft or by way of a commerce.
Philadelphia beforehand labored out Baylor freshman star VJ Edgecombe, the presumed No. 4 prospect within the NBA draft.
Some have placed on their tinfoil hats to develop theories involving this weird set of decision-making by Bailey and his group, and one circulating thought is that the previous Scarlet Knight has already obtained a promise to be drafted by a group he’s comfy taking part in for sooner or later.
ABC’s Jason Dumas reported that Bailey was looking for a promise from the Sixers previous to the assembly.
Bailey’s teammate, Ron Harper, is the consensus No. 2 projected decide.
Bailey attended the NBA Draft Mix and had a robust season for Rutgers, tallying 17.6 factors per recreation with 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists on 46 % taking pictures (34.6 from 3-point vary).
WHO ARE THE AUSSIES THAT COULD BE DRAFTED?
There are 4 of them.
Florida’s Alex Condon was anticipated to be the highest-drafted Australian, probably within the first spherical, however withdrew to return to school for one more 12 months.
Nevertheless, Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings), Tyrese Proctor (Duke), Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets) and Lachlan Olbrich (Illawarra Hawks) have all entered the draft and have a robust likelihood of listening to their names referred to as.
Whereas there’s a likelihood certainly one of them could possibly be taken within the later levels of the primary spherical, all mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, CBS Sports activities, Yahoo Sports activities and The Ringer have them going within the second.
To present you an thought of the place they might land, ESPN’s newest mock draft has Proctor going to Charlotte at thirty fourth total, with Golden State taking Zikarsky at forty first and Toohey landed at Chicago with the forty fifth total decide.
Olbrich, in the meantime, was mocked at fiftieth total to the Knicks.
You possibly can learn extra in-depth summaries of every of the Australians right here!
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE DRAFT?
The draft takes place on Thursday (Spherical 1) and Friday (Spherical 2) in Brooklyn New York.
WHAT TIME IS THE NBA DRAFT?
You possibly can tune in dwell on ESPN through Kayo Sports activities for pre-draft protection from 9am AEST on Thursday, whereas the primary spherical itself will get underway at 10am and wrap up at 1pm.
The second spherical additionally begins at 10am on Friday and is one you received’t need to miss, with 4 Australians anticipated to listen to their names referred to as.
HOW TO WATCH THE NBA DRAFT IN AUSTRALIA
You possibly can watch dwell protection of the 2025 NBA Draft with ESPN on Kayo Sports activities. Should you new to Kayo, you will get your first month for simply $1. Restricted time supply.
FIRST ROUND ORDER
1. Dallas Mavericks
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Charlotte Hornets
5. Utah Jazz
6. Washington Wizards
7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Brooklyn Nets
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Phoenix Suns (through Houston)
11. Portland Path Blazers
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Atlanta Hawks (through Sacramento)
14. San Antonio Spurs
15. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (through Miami)
16. Orlando Magic
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (through Detroit)
18. Washington Wizards (through Memphis)
19. Brooklyn Nets (through Milwaukee)
20. Miami Warmth (through Golden State)
21. Utah Jazz (through Minnesota)
22. Brooklyn Nets (through Atlanta)
23. New Orleans Pelicans (through Indiana)
24. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (through Los Angeles Clippers)
25. Orlando Magic (through Denver)
26. Brooklyn Nets (through New York)
27. Brooklyn Nets (through Houston)
28. Boston Celtics
29. Phoenix Suns (through Cleveland)
30. Los Angeles Clippers (through Oklahoma Metropolis)
SECOND ROUND ORDER
31. Minnesota Timberwolves (through Utah)
32. Boston Celtics (through Washington)
33. Charlotte Hornets
34. Charlotte Hornets (through New Orleans)
35. Philadelphia 76ers
36. Brooklyn Nets
37. Detroit Pistons (through Toronto)
38. San Antonio Spurs
39 Toronto Raptors (through Portland)
40. New Orleans Pelicans (through Washington)
41. Golden State Warriors (through Miami)
42 Sacramento Kings (through Chicago)
43. Utah Jazz (through Dallas)
44. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (through Atlanta)
45. Chicago Bulls (through Sacramento)
46. Orlando Magic
47. Milwaukee Bucks (through Detroit)
48. Memphis Grizzlies (through Golden State)
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (through Milwaukee)
50. New York Knicks (through Memphis)
51. Los Angeles Clippers (through Minnesota)
52. Phoenix Suns (through Denver)
53. Utah Jazz (through Los Angeles Clippers)
54. Indiana Pacers
55. Los Angeles Lakers
56. Memphis Grizzlies (through Houston)
57. Orlando Magic (through Boston)
58. Cleveland Cavaliers
59. Houston Rockets (through Oklahoma Metropolis)