The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is in the books. Teams came into the night with great hopes, and while some came away thrilled at the results, others made questionable choices that left their fanbases seething.
Only time will tell if those decisions pan out, but picking instant winners and losers is too fun of an opportunity to pass up.
Here’s who looked the best and the worst after all 30 picks were made.
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NBA Draft 2025 winners
Mavericks
While other teams were poring over game tape from dozens of prospects in this class, the Mavericks were taking it easy. Cooper Flagg was one of the biggest no-brainer No. 1 picks of all time.
The Mavs had only a 1.8 percent shot at landing Flagg, as a reminder. He’s one of the best No. 1 picks of the decade — a true two-way forward with all-defensive team potential and a well-balanced offensive game.
It was an easy choice, and Dallas making the pick rather than trying to trade it was the right one. They come away as the biggest winner of the night.
MORE: How Cooper Flagg fits with Mavericks
Spurs
The Spurs had an interesting decision coming into the draft. Dylan Harper is the clear No. 2 talent in this class, but they have a logjam at guard with Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox.
The Spurs made the right choice by taking Harper, the best player available, rather than reaching for another player or trading the pick just to move it. A trade could still happen. Now they can take their time on a deal and make sure that they get the best possible deal back.
MORE: How Dylan Harper fits with Spurs
Hornets
Kon Knueppel is a great fit for the Hornets, who took him with the No. 4 pick. He’s a high-feel player who should mesh well with LaMelo Ball as a lights-out shooter and good secondary playmaker. He didn’t have the highest ceiling of the prospects on the board, but this was a safe pick for a good talent.
The Hornets needed to add shooters, and they got one of the best ones in this draft.
Hawks
The Hawks made a bold move before the draft, trading for Kristaps Porzingis in a package centered around the No. 22 pick. They continued to be aggressive in the trade market, moving the No. 13 pick to the Pelicans in exchange for the No. 23 pick and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder.
That 2026 pick has a chance to generate a fantastic player. It’s unprotected and will be the better of the Pelicans and Bucks. That 2026 class is supposed to be a great one, and if Giannis Antetokounmpo does ask for a trade at some point this season, that Bucks pick has a chance to be great. This was a fleecing of a trade.
Unsolicited texts/DMs from people around the league in the last 3 minutes:
“Holy s***, Onsi got a probable lottery pick to move from 13 to 23?”
“Cannot believe that was the price ATL got to go down 10 spots”
“sooooo Onsi cooked?”
“Just took Dumars to the cleaners my god”
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) June 26, 2025
The Hawks then used that No. 23 pick to draft Asa Newell, adding a potential backup big man who can defend. He doesn’t have the highest ceiling and he’s not a great passer, but he has a good floor and fills a position of need for the team.
Hansen Yang
Yang was the most shocking pick of the first round. He was mocked as a second-round selection pretty much universally, but the Blazers stunned everyone by selecting him at no. 16.
That could end up looking brilliant or idiotic five years from now. Yang was one of the tougher prospects to scout because of how difficult it is to translate play from the Chinese Basketball Association. He did show great passing in international competition, and he measured well at 7-1 with huge hands at the NBA Draft Combine.
Yang is a project, and Blazers fans will have to be patient. You can’t teach his size, though. He has to be thrilled to already have a guaranteed deal rather than having to fight his way into the league as a second-round pick.
MORE: Meet Hansen Yang, the 2025 NBA Draft’s biggest mystery
Walter Clayton Jr.
Clayton was a smaller reach, getting taken No. 18 by the Jazz. The senior guard had a terrific year, winning a national championship with Florida and seeing his draft stock take off in the process.
The Jazz traded for the Wizards’ pick in order to get Clayton, upgrading their guard play. He’s a good shooter who certainly proved that he isn’t afraid of big moments. He and Ace Bailey are going to be a fun duo to watch.
Kendrick Perkins gets a shoutout as a loser here, showing his lack of awareness during this pick on ESPN’s broadcast.
Kendrick Perkins:
– Didn’t know Clayton wasn’t going to the Wizards
– Didn’t know Jordan Poole is no longer on the WizardsGreat analysis. 🚮
— Micah Adams (@MAdamsStatGuy) June 26, 2025
Magic
Jase Richardson was considered a late lottery talent by some draft experts. The Magic got great value by selecting the Michigan State guard at no. 25.
This is a great fit for Richardson too. Even after trading for Desmond Bane, Orlando needs help in order to juice up its offense. Richardson can do that well.
NBA Draft 2025 losers
Ace Bailey
Bailey was in contention for the No. 3 pick at various times during this draft cycle. His stock took a hit at the combine when he was measured at 6-foot-7.5, which was shorter than the 6-foot-10 that many thought he was. There was a worry that he would be the big faller of the night after his agent guided him through a bizarre predraft strategy where he declined to interview or work out with several teams, including the Jazz.
Bailey was too good of a talent for Utah to pass on with the No. 5 pick despite the fact that he didn’t seem too thrilled to go there (according to reports, his preference was to go to the Wizards at no. 6).
It’s a bit of an odd fit for the forward with Lauri Markkanen and John Collins still on the roster, but Bailey is a fantastic scorer and tough shot-maker who should get the green light. And now, he has a great offensive coach in Will Hardy that will set him up for success.
Suns
The Suns had the No. 10 pick and made a good value pick in Khaman Maluach. He’s a huge defensive center that shores up one of the biggest holes on their roster.
That would have been a fine pick on its own, but Phoenix immediately traded for Mark Williams, moving their No. 29 pick along with a 2029 first-rounder that will probably land near the back of that draft. This comes off the heels of trading for the Hornets’ other center, Nick Richards, at last year’s deadline.
It’s not totally clear why the Suns are stockpiling centers, particularly ones whose skillsets somewhat overlap. Williams is a good player, but this was an odd use of one of the only picks that they had available to move in a trade.
Pelicans
The Pelicans got a good player at Derik Queen with the No. 13 pick. They paid way too heavy of a price in order to move up, though. The 2026 unprotected pick that they gave the Hawks will probably be a good one.
The fit with Queen and Zion Williamson is also not good. Both players occupy similar roles and spaces on the floor. They’ve built a strange team, trading for Jordan Poole, as well.
Joe Dumars just took over as the lead decision-maker, and he’s already continuing the trend of head-scratching decisions that he was known for towards the end of his Detroit tenure.
Nets
The Nets came into this draft with five first-round picks — and they made a questionable decision with their best one.
Egor Demin is one of the most divisive prospects in this draft. Proponents see the best passer in this class, with great 6-9 size at the guard position and the potential to be a lead playmaker. Critics see a shaky shooter who has trouble creating advantages and has real defensive deficiencies.
Demin was being mocked in the late lottery (our Gilbert McGregor had him at No. 13). He was the first big surprise of the draft, getting selected at no. 8 by Brooklyn. That seems like a reach.
