Everyone is looking for the next savior. If you've spent more than five minutes on basketball Twitter lately, you know the name. Cooper Flagg. He's been the "chosen one" of this cycle since he was fifteen. But honestly, as we grind through the 2025-26 season, the conversation around the 25 NBA mock draft has shifted from a one-man coronation to a genuine, multi-player scramble for the top five.
The hype is real.
Flagg is currently tearing it up, but teams are looking at more than just the Duke superstar. There is a specific kind of desperation in front offices this year. Why? Because the 2024 draft was widely panned as "weak," meaning the pressure to nail these 2025 picks is immense. If you’re a GM and you miss on a wing in this class, you might be looking for a new job by 2027.
The Flagg Effect and the Duke Monopoly
Cooper Flagg isn't just a prospect. He's a 6'9" defensive nightmare who also happens to pass like a guard. At Duke, he put up ridiculous numbers: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and over 4 assists per game. He became the first ACC player in a quarter-century to hit the 500-point, 100-assist, and 30-block marks in a single regular season.
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He's a freak.
But he isn't the only Blue Devil getting first-round looks in a 25 NBA mock draft. Khaman Maluach is basically a 7'2" skyscraper with a 7'6" wingspan. He’s raw, sure. He looks a bit like a young Rudy Gobert, occasionally getting bullied in the post but erasing everything at the rim. Then there's Kon Knueppel. He might be the best shooter in the country, knocking down 40% of his threes while playing with a "boring" but incredibly effective efficiency.
Duke is basically an NBA farm system this year.
The Rutgers Duo: Ace and Dylan
If you want excitement, look at New Jersey. Rutgers—yes, Rutgers—has two of the top five players in most scouts' eyes. Ace Bailey is a 6'10" wing who treats the rim like it personally offended him. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, showing a scoring gravity that few 19-year-olds possess. He can be inconsistent, occasionally disappearing for stretches, but when he’s "on," he looks like a future All-Star.
Then you have Dylan Harper.
Harper is the steady hand. He’s a jumbo playmaker who broke the Rutgers freshman scoring record with over 560 points. He’s got that "old man" game—strong, deliberate, and high-IQ. He’s the guy you want with the ball when there are ten seconds left and you’re down by one. Scouts love his 19.4 PPG average because he didn't hunt shots; the game just came to him.
International Flavor: Nolan Traoré and the French Connection
France is on a roll. After Wemby and Risacher, Nolan Traoré is the next big thing from across the pond. Playing for Saint-Quentin, he’s shown flashes of being a dynamic, high-usage lead guard. He’s fast. Like, "blink and he’s at the rim" fast.
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There’s a catch, though.
His shooting is... questionable. He hits about 31% from deep, which makes some GMs nervous. If he’s going to be a star, that jumper has to become a real weapon. Right now, he’s a bit of a boom-or-bust prospect who relies on his first step to mask some defensive lapses.
Ranking the Mid-Lottery Chaos
The middle of the first round is where things get weird. You’ve got VJ Edgecombe at Baylor, who might be the most explosive athlete in the entire draft. He’s a 6'5" guard who can jump out of the gym. He averaged 15 points and over 5 rebounds, but his real value is on the defensive end where he’s a total pest.
Then there's Tre Johnson at Texas.
Johnson is a pure "bucket getter." He doesn't pass much—actually, he barely passes at all, averaging only 2.7 assists—but he scores 20 a night with a high release point that is almost impossible to block. He's the guy you draft if your team has a bunch of "role players" but nobody who can actually put the ball in the hoop during the playoffs.
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The Risers You Haven't Heard Of
- Egor Demin (BYU): A massive guard who some scouts think is the best passer in the class. He’s crafty and sees angles that most college players miss.
- Asa Newell (Georgia): A high-motor forward who lives on the glass. He’s mobile enough to switch onto guards, which is the "holy grail" for modern NBA defenses.
- Kasparas Jakučionis (Illinois): A Lithuanian playmaker who has been carving up Big Ten defenses with advanced pick-and-roll reads.
Why the Order Matters More Than the Talent
The 25 NBA mock draft is always a game of musical chairs. If the Washington Wizards get the top pick, do they take Flagg, even if they already have a crowded frontcourt? Probably. You don't pass on a talent like that. But if a team like the Spurs somehow lands at the top again? Pairing Flagg with Wembanyama would be illegal in 48 states. It would essentially break the league's defensive geometry.
NBA teams aren't just looking for "the best player" anymore. They’re looking for "connector" pieces. That’s why guys like Kon Knueppel are rising. You don't need him to be your number one option; you need him to space the floor and make the right pass. In a league where everyone wants to be a star, the guy who's happy being a high-level starter is worth his weight in gold.
Addressing the Common Misconceptions
People keep saying this draft is "Flagg or nothing." That’s just wrong. Honestly, the depth of the 2025 class is its biggest strength. You could find a starting-caliber wing at pick 18. Last year, that wasn't the case. This year, if you’re picking in the late teens, you’re still getting a guy like Drake’s Bennett Stirtz or Maryland’s Derik Queen—players with real, translatable NBA skills.
Is there a "bust" risk? Of course.
Airious "Ace" Bailey has the highest ceiling but maybe the lowest floor among the top tier. If his shot-selection doesn't improve, he could become a high-volume, low-efficiency bench scorer. But if it clicks? He’s Paul George 2.0.
Final Insights for the 2025 Cycle
The draft isn't just about the one-and-done freshmen anymore. We’re seeing more sophomores and even seniors like Yaxel Lendeborg at Michigan or Bennett Stirtz at Iowa creep into the conversation. Teams are starting to value "pro-readiness" over "limitless potential" because they need cheap labor that can actually play 20 minutes a night right away.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on these specific developments:
- Monitor the injury reports for Dylan Harper: His ankle issues in January were a minor red flag, and scouts want to see him finish the season strong.
- Watch Maluach’s free-throw percentage: It’s a classic "hidden" indicator of shooting touch. If he’s hitting 75% from the line, his NBA three-point potential is real.
- Follow the Saint-Quentin box scores: Nolan Traoré's efficiency in the French league will dictate whether he stays in the top five or slides to the back of the lottery.
The next few months of the college season and the international playoffs will solidify these rankings. But for now, the 2025 class looks like the injection of talent the NBA has been waiting for. It’s deep, it’s athletic, and it’s led by a generational talent in Cooper Flagg.
Check the current standings of the teams at the bottom of the NBA—the "Race for Flagg" is officially in high gear.