2025 NBA Draft: Winners, Losers and Surprises
The 2025 NBA Draft delivered historic moments, shocking picks, and franchise-altering decisions. Here’s the definitive breakdown of who came out ahead and who stumbled on draft night.
🏆 Biggest Winners
1. Duke’s Draft Dominance
• Three lottery picks (Cooper Flagg #1, Kon Knueppel #4, Khaman Maluach #10)
• Matches program records set in 1999 (Brand/Langdon/Maggette) and 2019 (Zion/RJ/Reddish)
• Cements Coach Scheyer’s reputation as an NBA talent factory
2. Brooklyn’s Draft Haul
The Nets executed a five-pick first-round strategy:
✔️ #8 Egor Demin (BYU) – Versatile Euro-style wing
✔️ #19 Nolan Traore (France) – High-upside playmaker
✔️ #22 Drake Powell (UNC) – Elite perimeter defender
✔️ Plus two value picks at #26 and #27
3. San Antonio’s Seamless Rebuild
• #2 Dylan Harper – Perfect backcourt complement to Wembanyama
• #14 Carter Bryant – Spurs continue finding gems outside lottery
4. Hawks GM Onsi Saleh’s Masterclass
• Turned #13 pick into potential 2026 Top-5 selection (via Pelicans)
• Still landed lottery-talent Asa Newell at #23
• Added Kristaps Porziņģis in separate savvy move
5. International Pipeline
• France extends first-round streak with 3 selections
• SEC dominates with 5 first-rounders (3 lottery picks)
• Cedric Coward makes improbable journey from DIII to lottery pick
🤔 Questionable Decisions
Portland’s Center Obsession
• Drafted 7’1″ Chinese prospect Yang Hansen at #16
• Comes just one year after selecting Donovan Clingan #7
• Signals likely end for Robert Williams III in Portland
Phoenix’s Costly Center Gamble
• Traded two first-rounders for Mark Williams…
• …Then saw Duke’s Maluach fall to them at #10
• Still saddled with Bradley Beal’s untradeable contract
Kentucky’s Historic Drought Ends
• First time since 2009 with no first-round Wildcats
• Snaps 16-year streak producing 36 first-round picks
📉 Biggest Sliders
Fell Further Than Expected:
• Ace Bailey (Projected lottery → #12)
• Liam McNeeley (Projected mid-first → #29 to Hornets)
Missed First Round Entirely:
• Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s)
• Maxime Raynaud (Stanford)
🔮 Early Takeaways
- Duke and international scouting continue to dominate draft boards
- Teams with multiple picks (Nets, Spurs) positioned well for future
- Kentucky’s decline as NBA pipeline raises questions
- Portland and Phoenix’s center logjams create roster headaches
The real draft grades won’t be known for years, but night one delivered no shortage of drama and franchise-altering decisions.