2025 NBA Draft Round 1 Complete: Cooper Flagg Goes No. 1 Amidst Trade Frenzy

The first night of the 2025 NBA Draft delivered plenty of excitement, capped by phenom Cooper Flagg heading to Dallas as the highly anticipated No. 1 overall selection. With the first round officially complete, the draft board saw 30 new prospects find NBA homes, often involving a dizzying flurry of reported trades that reshaped rosters before players even stepped onto the stage.

This recap covers every pick and reported trade from the first round and looks ahead to the second round, which promises more talent and potential moves.

Cooper Flagg Lands with the Dallas Mavericks at No. 1

The biggest news of the night saw the Dallas Mavericks select Cooper Flagg from Duke University as the top pick. This was a major outcome for the Mavericks, who incredibly won the NBA Draft Lottery despite having just a 1.8% chance, making them the fourth-largest underdog since the lottery began in 1985.

Flagg arrives in Dallas following a tumultuous prior season that saw the team make a deep Finals run in 2024 before navigating significant roster changes. His selection marks a growing connection to Duke for the Mavericks, as he joins center Dereck Lively II (selected 12th in 2023) and is now paired with star guard Kyrie Irving, who recently agreed to a new three-year contract after being the No. 1 pick out of Duke himself 14 years ago. Flagg is the fifth Duke player in the Lottery era to be drafted first overall.

Described by analysts as a versatile “do-it-all forward” with exceptional court IQ and maturity, Flagg is expected to immediately impact the Mavericks’ frontcourt depth. His skills have been likened to a “queen on a chessboard” due to his ability to guard multiple positions and consistently make the “right play.” While his college season averages (19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.4 blocks) showcase his all-around game, his focus remains squarely on winning. He joins a team built to contend, providing him an opportunity to develop alongside established stars Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving without immediate pressure to carry the offense. Flagg is only the second No. 1 overall pick in Dallas franchise history, the first since Mark Aguirre in 1981.

First Round Picks 2-30: Top Prospects and Relentless Trades

The action continued rapidly after the first pick, featuring a collection of exciting prospects and a significant number of reported trades – ten deals were reportedly made throughout the first round alone.

Here’s a look at the rest of the first-round selections and their associated reported trades:

2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
The son of NBA champion Ron Harper, Dylan Harper was seen as the clear second-best talent by some analysts. His freshman stats (19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists) and effectiveness in pick-and-roll situations make him an intriguing addition to the Spurs’ young core alongside Victor Wembanyama.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Edgecombe brings explosive athleticism and defensive prowess, aiming to complement the 76ers’ veteran core of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel (Duke)
An elite shooter (41% from three), Knueppel’s skills could provide valuable floor spacing alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Knueppel is also one of several high draft picks from basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy in this class.
5. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
Bailey, a versatile forward and shot-maker, joins his Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper as a top-5 selection. Known for his offensive potential, Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in college.
6. Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson (Texas)
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
8. Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin (BYU)
Demin is recognized for having some of the best passing skills in the draft class and is the first of a remarkable five first-round picks for the Nets.
9. Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
10. Houston Rockets: Khaman Maluach (Duke) – Reportedly traded to Suns
Maluach becomes the highest-drafted former NBA Academy Africa and Basketball Africa League player.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Cedric Coward (Washington State) – Reportedly traded to Grizzlies
Coward was highlighted as a “draft night riser” based on his combine and workout performances.
12. Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
13. Atlanta Hawks: Derik Queen (Maryland) – Reportedly traded to Pelicans
In a significant reported trade, the Hawks sent the rights to Derik Queen to New Orleans in exchange for the rights to the 23rd pick (Asa Newell) and a protected 2026 first-round pick (the more favorable of the Pelicans’ or Bucks’ pick). Queen is a versatile frontcourt player who averaged 16.5 points and 9 rebounds at Maryland. Queen and Newell were both part of the highly-touted Montverde Academy group.
14. San Antonio Spurs: Carter Bryant (Arizona)
15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
Sorber was another player noted as a “draft night riser” entering the league with the reigning 2024-25 NBA Champions.
16. Memphis Grizzlies: Yang Hansen (Qingdao) – Reportedly traded to Trail Blazers
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Joan Beringer (Cedevita Olimpija)
18. Washington Wizards: Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida) – Reportedly traded to Jazz
19. Brooklyn Nets: Nolan Traoré (Saint-Quentin BB)
20. Miami Heat: Kasparas Jakučionis (Illinois)
21. Utah Jazz: Will Riley (Illinois) – Reportedly traded to Wizards
22. Atlanta Hawks: Drake Powell (North Carolina) – Reportedly traded to Nets
23. New Orleans Pelicans: Asa Newell (Georgia) – Reportedly traded to Hawks
As noted above, Newell’s rights were reportedly traded to Atlanta as part of the package for Derik Queen. Newell was also a member of the Montverde Academy group.
24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Nique Clifford (Colorado State) – Reportedly traded to Kings
25. Orlando Magic: Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
26. Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm)
27. Brooklyn Nets: Danny Wolf (Michigan)
28. Boston Celtics: Hugo González (Real Madrid)
29. Phoenix Suns: Liam McNeeley (Connecticut) – Reportedly traded to Hornets
McNeeley is another player from the influential Montverde Academy group. His rights were reportedly sent to Charlotte in exchange for Mark Williams.
30. LA Clippers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Penn State)
Konan Niederhauser became the first player ever drafted in the first round directly out of Penn State and was also considered a “draft night riser.”

Key Storylines and Trends from Night 1

Beyond the individual picks, several overarching themes defined the first round:

The Trade Tide: The sheer volume of reported trades stood out, with rights exchanged for multiple picks throughout the night. This indicates teams were eager to position themselves and highlighted the value placed on both specific players and future draft capital.
The Global Game: While this class didn’t feature an obvious international consensus No. 1 pick like previous years, the depth of international talent remained significant. Numerous players from countries like France (Essengue, Beringer, Traoré), Spain (González), Israel (Saraf), and others landed in the first round, continuing the league’s global expansion. A growing trend sees more international prospects choosing the U.S. college route before declaring. The draft also included a historical nod, marking 75 years since Chuck Cooper became the first Black player selected in the NBA Draft (13th overall in 1950).
College & Prep Powerhouses: Specific programs showed their recruiting and development strength. Rutgers boasted two top-5 picks in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, who shared a close bond as teammates. Even more notably, Montverde Academy, coached by Kevin Boyle (“The Factory”), produced a remarkable four reported first-round picks (Flagg, Knueppel, Queen, Newell, McNeeley), demonstrating their ability to prepare players for elite competition.
Brooklyn’s Draft Capital: Hosting the draft, the Brooklyn Nets held a commanding position with a league-high four first-round picks (Nos. 8, 19, 26, 27), providing them immense flexibility to add young talent or leverage those assets in future deals.

Several prominent teams did not hold a first-round pick in this draft, including the Nuggets, Warriors, Lakers, Kings, Bucks, Pacers, Cavaliers, Pistons, and Knicks.

Looking Ahead: The Second Round Awaits

While the headline-grabbing picks and trades are complete, the 2025 NBA Draft isn’t over yet. The second round tips off Thursday, June 26 (8 ET, ESPN) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Here is the order for the second-round selections (Picks 31-59), noting some reported pick trades:

31. Minnesota Timberwolves
32. Boston Celtics
33. Charlotte Hornets
34. Charlotte Hornets
35. Philadelphia 76ers
36. Brooklyn Nets
37. Detroit Pistons
38. San Antonio Spurs – Reportedly traded to Pacers
39. Toronto Raptors
40. Washington Wizards – Reportedly traded to Pelicans
41. Golden State Warriors
42. Sacramento Kings
43. Utah Jazz – Reportedly traded to Wizards
44. Oklahoma City Thunder
45. Chicago Bulls
46. Orlando Magic
47. Milwaukee Bucks
48. Memphis Grizzlies
49. Cleveland Cavaliers
50. New York Knicks
51. LA Clippers
52. Phoenix Suns
53. Utah Jazz
54. Indiana Pacers
55. Los Angeles Lakers
— New York Knicks (This 2025 second-round pick for the Knicks was rescinded by the NBA)
56. Memphis Grizzlies
57. Orlando Magic
58. Cleveland Cavaliers