The 2025 NBA Draft lottery is going to be one of the marquee events of the season. For all the talent in this draft class, there will be no drama over who gets selected with the No. 1 overall pick.
Cooper Flagg is living up to every ounce of hype at the start of his freshman season at Duke. He feels like one of the strongest top picks of the last decade, combining incredible defensive acumen with elite athleticism and a developing offensive skill set. Flagg is the big prize in this draft, but there are plenty of other gifted prospects after him.
This is our first 2025 NBA mock draft since the day after the 2024 draft. There’s already been a lot of movement on the board after the first few weeks of the college season. Team need wasn’t taken into consideration quite as much as overall talent at this stage. Here’s our latest 2025 NBA mock draft.
Flagg is a rarity among super prospects in many ways, including that his on-ball scoring is perhaps the weakest part of the package. Instead, Flagg is at his best away from the ball, emerging as the rare non 7-footer to dominate a game defensively and fill in all the cracks offensively. It’s possible and maybe even likely that Flagg eventually develops into the sort of jumbo primary creator every team wants. For now, he can still leave his finger prints all over a game with his brilliant defensive playmaking, rim finishing, passing, and floor spacing. Flagg has ideal size and athleticism for an NBA four, and his game is already impossibly well-rounded for a 17-year-old. The team that wins the lottery is landing a franchise player for the next decade.
2. Philadelphia 76ers – Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers
Harper is a jumbo guard who combines scoring punch and defensive upside at the point of attack. At 6’6, 215 pounds, Harper lacks the nuclear burst that typically defines top-rated guard prospects, but he makes up for it with a well-rounded skill set and unrelenting approach to getting buckets. Harper is a developing shooter both off the dribble and on spot-ups who can create space with step-backs and side-steps. He’s crafty as a driver, and can usually leverage his big frame to help create scoring chances for himself and his teammates. His vision as a playmaker is more solid than spectacular, but he should score enough to make up for it. Harper can also really hound smaller guards on the perimeter defensively, where he uses his length to pressure the ball and force turnovers. He’s already extremely polished for an 18-year-old, and still has plenty of upside tied to his shooting development.
3. New Orleans Pelicans – Egor Demin, G, BYU
Demin is playing in an NBA system for former Phoenix Suns assistant coach Kevin Young at BYU, and he’s looked like a tantalizing pro prospect against a soft schedule so far. The 6’9 Russian guard is a gifted playmaker with the size to see over any defender and tremendous court vision. Running pick-and-roll will be Demin’s bread-and-butter, and while he isn’t a quick twitch athlete, he’s still able to succeed because he’s always under control. Demin’s three-point shot looks good off the catch so far, but will continue to be something to monitor. It will be interesting to see how his ball handling and finishing hold up against better competition, but for now he looks like one of the most promising prospects in this class.
4. Toronto Raptors – Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers
It’s going to be easy to nitpick Bailey because of his shot selection, but the team that drafts him is doing so for his potential, not his polish. The Rutgers freshman is just barely scratching the surface of his long-term upside, but he possesses an abundance of tools that could be special even at the highest levels of the game. At 6’10, Bailey is an explosive athlete who can hammer finishes at the rim, attack the offensive glass, and thrive in transition. He prefers to play out on the perimeter, where he’s showcased some remarkable tough shot-making ability and NBA range on his three-ball. Bailey’s process is often an adventure: he’s a poor passer who doesn’t see the floor particularly well. He’ll need to tighten the handle and add strength to his frame. Bailey should be thought as a play finisher, not a play creator, but as a young freshman he’s only going to keep getting better.
5. Utah Jazz – Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Maluach’s combination of size and mobility was so impressive South Sudan took him for its roster at the Paris Olympics. At 7’2 with a 7’5 wingspan and a reported 9’8 standing reach, Duke’s freshman center is an absolute giant who runs the floor well, plays with a high motor, and has tons of untapped long-term upside. Maluach can be a menace in drop coverage, and is already blocking tons of shots for the Blue Devils. He’s also a force on the glass, particularly on the offensive end where his length and motor lead to extra possessions. He’s still figuring out his craft as a roller, but he’s showcased solid touch inside thus far. Maluach was taking three-pointers back in Africa, and it will be fascinating to see if that becomes part of his game in college. The 18-year-old is raw in both his feel and his skill set, but he has some fantastic tools to build on going forward.
6. Charlotte Hornets – Tre Johnson, G, Texas
To this point, Johnson has a case as the best shooter and shot-maker in the class. The 6’6 wing can be a devastating off-ball scorer with a quick release and deep range on his three-point shot. Johnson will also have some fantastic flashes of tough shot-making inside the arc, but he often seems a little too willing to settle for those looks. He isn’t known for his defense, and has at least competed and looked competent on that end so far. Johnson may not have the most well-rounded game in this class, but his explosive scoring outbursts and lethal three-point shot will still make him highly appealing in the lottery.
