The dust has settled on a pivotal night for the league’s future. The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft unfolded on Wednesday, June 25th, delivering moments of triumph, strategic genius, and head-scratching decisions. While it’s far too early to predict future superstars like a Tony Parker or Giannis Antetokounmpo, the immediate aftermath provides a clear picture of which teams, conferences, and individuals emerged as winners, and who faced setbacks.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest winners and losers from the 2025 NBA Draft’s first round:
NBA Draft First Round Winners
Several franchises and college programs positioned themselves strongly for the future or executed masterful strategic moves.
Duke Blue Devils & Coach Scheyer
It was a historic night for Duke. Coach Jon Scheyer’s program landed three players in the lottery: Cooper Flagg at No. 1 overall, Kon Knueppel at No. 4, and Khaman Maluach at No. 10. This marks only the third time in school history that Duke has had three lottery selections in the same draft, putting them in elite company alongside their 1999 and 2019 draft classes. A truly dominant showing at the top of the draft.
Brooklyn Nets
Continuing their comprehensive rebuild, the Brooklyn Nets prioritized volume in the first round, securing an impressive five picks. Their haul included Egor Demin (No. 8) from BYU, Nolan Traore (No. 19) from France, Drake Powell (No. 22) from North Carolina, Ben Saraf (No. 26) from Israel, and Danny Wolf (No. 27) from Michigan. While hitting on all five is unlikely, this high volume provides the Nets with numerous chances to find cornerstone pieces for their future roster.
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs boast an elite track record in drafting and developing talent, a skill crucial when building around a generational player like Victor Wembanyama. By selecting Dylan Harper at No. 2 and Carter Bryant at No. 14, the Spurs have added two more high-upside prospects with the potential to grow into solid contributors alongside their French superstar.
Atlanta Hawks GM Onsi Saleh
Just two months into his role, first-time General Manager Onsi Saleh delivered what many are calling a masterclass. His savvy moves began before the draft, acquiring stretch center Kristaps Porziņģis from Boston at a discount thanks to the Celtics’ luxury tax concerns. On draft night, Saleh traded down from pick No. 13 with the Pelicans to No. 23, where he selected forward Asa Newell, a player considered a fringe lottery prospect who unexpectedly fell. The real coup? According to reports, the trade included an unprotected first-round pick in 2026. The Hawks are set to receive the most favorable of the Pelicans’ two picks in that draft (their own and one originally from the Bucks), potentially turning their No. 13 pick into a top-5 selection next year, plus adding Newell to their roster. This maneuvering demonstrated both value acquisition and future asset building.
Southeastern Conference (SEC)
The SEC flexed its muscles in the first round, placing five players, including three in the top 10. The conference’s lottery picks were Tre Johnson (Texas, No. 6), Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma, No. 7), and Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina, No. 9). Murray-Boyles’ selection was particularly notable, marking South Carolina’s first lottery pick in program history. Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. (No. 18) and Georgia’s Asa Newell (No. 23) rounded out the SEC’s strong first-round contingent.
Dallas Mavericks & Cooper Flagg
Despite having only a 1.8% chance, the Dallas Mavericks hit the jackpot by winning the NBA Draft Lottery, securing the No. 1 overall pick. Their selection of Cooper Flagg places the highly touted prospect in a solid organizational situation. In Dallas, Flagg can develop his game alongside established stars without facing the immediate, intense pressure often placed on No. 1 picks on rebuilding teams.
Utah Jazz
Adopting a clear “best player available” philosophy, the Jazz stuck to their board. They selected dynamic Rutgers wing Ace Bailey at No. 12, reportedly unswayed by rumors that he might be trying to influence his draft destination. They then executed a trade with the Wizards to move up for experienced and clutch guard Walter Clayton Jr. at No. 18, snatching him ahead of teams like the Nets and Heat who reportedly had interest. It was a classic approach focused on projected impact and value, characteristic of their front office.
The 30 First-Round Picks
Beyond the teams and conferences, the biggest winners are the players themselves. For 30 young athletes and their families, years of sacrifice, hard work, and chasing a dream culminated in hearing their name called in the first round, a life-changing moment representing the realization of their aspirations.
NBA Draft First Round Losers
Draft night inevitably brings disappointments and questionable decisions for some.
Kentucky Wildcats
For the first time since the 2009 draft, the Kentucky Wildcats did not have a single player selected in the first round. This snaps a remarkable 16-year streak during which 36 Wildcats were first-round picks. The drought, occurring exactly 16 years to the day of the 2009 draft that featured future stars like James Harden and Blake Griffin, was a surprising and unwelcome moment for the traditionally dominant program.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns’ draft night felt like a series of missteps centered around the center position. Despite a clear need for a big man, their execution was costly. Phoenix reportedly traded two first-round picks (No. 29 in 2025 and a future 2029 pick) for Mark Williams because they allegedly didn’t expect Duke’s Khaman Maluach to be available at their own pick, No. 10. However, Maluach did fall to No. 10, offering significant value to Duke but leaving the Suns with buyer’s remorse on the trade. Losing the No. 29 pick further depleted their depth, a critical issue for a team already weighed down by the expensive and difficult-to-move contract of Bradley Beal.
Portland Trail Blazers
Continuing a puzzling trend, the Portland Trail Blazers also seemed fixated on centers. One draft after selecting Donovan Clingan No. 7 overall, Portland delivered the night’s biggest surprise by taking 7-foot-1 Chinese center Yang Hansen at No. 16. This move almost certainly signals the imminent departure of Robert Williams, who is on an expiring contract and likely to be traded. Doubling down on high draft picks for a position where typically only one player sees significant minutes raised eyebrows across the league.
The Players Who Slid
Draft night can be a rollercoaster, and several players saw their stock drop compared to most mock draft projections. Notable slides included Kasparas Jakučionis (Heat, No. 20), Asa Newell (Hawks, No. 23), Jase Richardson (Magic, No. 25), and Liam McNeeley (Hornets, No. 29). McNeeley’s fall from a projected mid-to-late lottery pick was perhaps the most surprising, though his elite shooting should provide immediate value to the Hornets.
The Players Who Missed the First Round
Several prospects who were projected as potential late first-round selections ultimately did not hear their names called on Wednesday night. Saint Joseph’s forward Rasheer Fleming and Stanford center Maxime Raynaud were among the prominent players who fell out of the first round entirely. Others like Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner and French forward Noah Penda also had outside chances but missed out. Despite these notable names, the overall consensus was that the first round didn’t feature an unusually high number of major surprises regarding who was ultimately selected within the top 30.
