The air in the Barclays Center usually feels like a mix of expensive cologne and nervous sweat on draft night, but June 2025 was something else entirely. We all knew where it was going. There was no mystery at the top, yet the energy was electric. Seeing the 2025 NBA draft results actually play out felt like watching a slow-motion car crash for the rest of the league, mostly because of where the generational prize landed.
Cooper Flagg to the Dallas Mavericks.
Honestly, it still feels like a fever dream for Mavs fans. After the chaos of trading away Luka Doncic earlier in the year, the basketball gods decided to throw Dallas a life raft in the form of a 6-foot-9 forward from Duke who basically does everything on the court. He was the consensus number one pick for years, and Dallas didn't blink.
The Top 10: A Shakeup at the Top
While Flagg was the main event, the rest of the lottery was a wild ride of "fit versus talent." The San Antonio Spurs, who seem to be hoarding elite talent like it’s a hobby, grabbed Dylan Harper at number two. If you haven't seen Harper play, he’s a lefty guard with a frame that already looks NBA-ready. Pairing him with Victor Wembanyama is just unfair. Seriously.
The Philadelphia 76ers went for explosiveness at three with VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor. People were whispering about Ace Bailey potentially going there, but Edgecombe’s two-way potential and Bahamian grit won them over.
Here is how the top of the 2025 NBA draft results shook out in the first round:
- Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (Duke)
- San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
- Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
- Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel (Duke)
- Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
- Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson (Texas)
- New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
- Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin (BYU)
- Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
- Phoenix Suns (via Houston): Khaman Maluach (Duke)
Ace Bailey sliding to five was probably the biggest "wait, what?" moment of the night. The Jazz are basically betting on pure, unadulterated upside. Bailey didn't do the traditional workout circuit—he actually canceled a session with Philly—which led to some draft-day sliding. But if he hits? Utah just got a perennial All-Star at five.
The Mid-First Round Steals
The Brooklyn Nets were busy. Like, really busy. They had four first-round picks.
Taking Egor Demin at eight was a gutsy move. He’s a jumbo playmaker who struggled with his shot at BYU, but his vision is elite. Later on, they grabbed Nolan Traoré at 19 and Drake Powell at 22. It’s clear Brooklyn is just throwing darts at high-ceiling wings and hoping for a bullseye.
One of my personal favorites from the middle of the pack was the Oklahoma City Thunder taking Thomas Sorber at 15. The rich get richer, right? Sorber is a physical beast from Georgetown with a 7-foot-6 wingspan. He’s exactly the kind of "anchor" that can let Chet Holmgren roam free on the perimeter.
Second Round Sleepers and Trade Chaos
The second round is where things usually get weird, and 2025 was no exception. It was a trade-fest.
Charlotte had a very specific "type" this year: shooters. After taking Knueppel in the first, they went and got Ryan Kalkbrenner at 34. Kalkbrenner is a giant—7-foot-1—who can actually space the floor. If you're building around LaMelo Ball, you need guys who won't clog the paint, and the Hornets actually stuck to the script for once.
The Lakers made a splash in the second round too, acquiring the rights to Adou Thiero at 36. He’s an Arkansas kid who is basically a ball of muscle and energy. He needs a jumper, sure, but the defensive floor is already high.
Why the 2025 Class is Different
Usually, you get one or two "sure things." This year, the 2025 NBA draft results suggest we might look back on this as the "Year of the Freshman." Almost the entire top ten was one-and-done talent.
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- Cooper Flagg is already putting up nearly 20 points a game in the league.
- Tre Johnson is proving his scoring at Texas wasn't a fluke; he’s a bucket-getter for the Wizards.
- Khaman Maluach is raw, but at 7-foot-1, his rim-running is already changing games for Phoenix.
There was also a cool international flair. Seeing Yang Hansen go 16th to the Blazers (via trade) was a moment. A 7-foot-2 center from China with those kind of passing skills? It’s basically "Jokic-lite" vibes, and Portland is the perfect place for him to develop without the immediate pressure of a title run.
What it Means for the 2026 Season
If you're looking at these results and wondering who won the draft, it's Dallas. Period.
Flagg is already the betting favorite for Rookie of the Year. He’s averaging roughly 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists through the first half of his debut season. More importantly, he’s a "stocks" monster (steals + blocks). He had a rough shooting start—typical for an 18-year-old—but since December, he’s been hitting about 35% from three.
The Spurs are the other big winners. By adding Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant (at 14), they’ve built a modern, versatile roster around Wemby. It’s scary.
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For fans following the 2025 NBA draft results, the next step is watching the G-League development of those late first-rounders like Hugo González and Ben Saraf. Many of these guys won't see real NBA minutes until 2027, but the talent density in this class is the highest we've seen since 2003 or 2018.
Keep an eye on the waiver wires in your fantasy leagues. Guys like Johni Broome (76ers) and Chaz Lanier (Pistons) are older rookies who are already carved out niche roles as rotation players. They aren't the stars, but they are the "glue" that makes these draft classes successful in the long run.
If you want to track how these rookies are performing in real-time, check the official NBA advanced stats page or follow beat writers for the Mavs and Spurs on social media. The "Flagg Era" in Dallas is officially underway, and so far, it’s living up to every bit of the hype.