The 2025 NBA Draft just served up more plot twists than your favorite Netflix series, and honestly? Half the experts are still trying to figure out what the heck just happened. With Cooper Flagg landing in Dallas and Dylan Harper heading to San Antonio as expected, everything else went completely off the rails in the most entertaining way possible.
From Ace Bailey’s dramatic slide to teams making picks that had draft rooms across the league scratching their heads, this year’s draft proved that consensus means absolutely nothing when front offices start trusting their own evaluations over popular opinion.
The value picks that make front offices look brilliant
Let’s start with the steal of the entire draft – Liam McNeeley falling all the way to Charlotte at number 29. This is the kind of pick that’ll have people asking “how did everyone else miss this guy?” five years from now. McNeeley was ranked 17th on most big boards but somehow slipped to the end of the first round.
Sure, his three-point shooting dipped to 32% at UConn this season, and some private workouts didn’t go as smoothly as expected. But when you’re 6-foot-8 with legitimate basketball skills and a proven track record of knocking down shots, that’s exactly the type of player who thrives with NBA spacing and a reduced role.
Miami also absolutely crushed it by landing Kasparas Jakucionis at number 20. Getting a top-10 talent at pick 20 is the kind of value that wins championships down the road. The 6-foot-6 playmaker fills a massive need for the Heat while bringing the versatility and basketball IQ that perfectly matches their culture.
The surprise picks that left everyone speechless
Yang Hansen to Portland at number 16 might go down as the most shocking selection in recent draft history. This teenage big man from China was ranked 35th on most boards, and suddenly the Trail Blazers are using a lottery pick on him? That’s either brilliant long-term thinking or a spectacular gamble that could backfire spectacularly.
The fascinating part is that Brooklyn reportedly had interest in Hansen with their later picks, but Portland decided not to risk it. Sometimes when you love a player, you just take him regardless of what everyone else thinks. We’ll find out in a few years whether this was genius or madness.
Egor Demin going to Brooklyn at number 8 also raised eyebrows, especially with other talented players still on the board. But the Nets clearly have a vision for building around versatile playmakers, and Demin fits that mold perfectly despite his shooting struggles at BYU.
The draft classes that could define franchises
Charlotte assembled what might be the most cohesive draft class of the entire night. Landing Kon Knueppel at number 4, then stealing McNeeley at 29, and adding Ryan Kalkbrenner in the second round gives them legitimate depth and complementary skills across multiple positions.
Knueppel’s basketball IQ and selfless play style should mesh beautifully with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, while McNeeley provides the shooting and size every team craves. Kalkbrenner gives them an NBA-ready center who can contribute immediately. That’s three solid contributors from one draft class.
San Antonio deserves credit for resisting the urge to trade Dylan Harper despite fit concerns with their existing backcourt. Sometimes you just take the best player available and figure out the rest later, especially when you have a 21-year-old superstar like Victor Wembanyama anchoring your franchise.
The trades that changed everything
New Orleans made the most aggressive move of the night, trading up to grab Derik Queen at number 13 after already selecting Jeremiah Fears at number 7. The cost? Their 2026 first-round pick, which could end up being incredibly valuable in what’s expected to be a loaded draft class.
The Pelicans clearly fell in love with both prospects and decided to mortgage future assets to get their guys. It’s a risky strategy that puts immediate pressure on both rookies to contribute, especially with the crowded backcourt situation they’re walking into.
Meanwhile, Atlanta played it smart by trading down and collecting what could be the eighth pick in 2026 just for moving down 10 spots. That’s the kind of asset accumulation that builds sustainable success over time.
The rookie of the year race is already over
Cooper Flagg winning Rookie of the Year feels like the safest prediction in sports right now. The Dallas Mavericks desperately need shot creation and playmaking, especially with Kyrie Irving recovering from injury. Flagg will be thrown into the fire immediately and given every opportunity to showcase his skills.
The supporting cast for All-Rookie honors should include Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, Kon Knueppel, and potentially Tre Johnson depending on how much Washington empowers their young talent. These guys are walking into situations where they’ll get significant minutes and chances to make immediate impacts.
The under-the-radar picks that could surprise everyone
Keep an eye on Hugo Gonzalez, who fell all the way to Boston at number 28 despite being ranked much higher on most boards. His struggles getting playing time with Real Madrid hurt his stock, but the talent is undeniable. The Celtics have a history of developing international prospects, and Gonzalez’s defensive intensity should make him a fan favorite.
Will Riley landing in Washington at number 21 is another name to remember. At 6-foot-8 with legitimate offensive skills, he just needs to add strength to his frame. The Wizards are committed to giving young players opportunities, which could accelerate his development significantly.
The G League stars of tomorrow
Javon Small going to Memphis at number 48 looks like highway robbery. This guy carried West Virginia in the loaded Big 12 and brings exactly the kind of toughness and shot-making ability that translates beautifully to G League success. Don’t be surprised if he forces his way onto an NBA roster sooner than expected.
Ryan Nembhard signing with Dallas as an undrafted free agent could be the steal of the entire draft process. His size limitations are real, but his feel for the game and playmaking ability are off the charts. The Mavericks’ lack of point guard depth could fast-track his development.
The prediction that’ll look brilliant in five years
Joan Beringer becoming an All-Defensive team candidate seems like the safest long-term bet from this entire draft class. Going to Minnesota means he’ll practice against Rudy Gobert every day, learning from one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history.
The fact that Beringer didn’t even touch a basketball until 2021 makes his rapid development even more impressive. With his length, instincts, and now elite-level coaching, he could become the kind of defensive anchor that championship teams are built around.
What this draft really revealed about the modern NBA
The biggest takeaway from this entire process is that college basketball is officially back in a major way. After international prospects dominated recent drafts, this year saw American college players flood the first round in unprecedented numbers.
The combination of NIL money keeping players in school longer and the overall talent level in college basketball has created a draft environment where teams feel more comfortable betting on known commodities rather than international mystery boxes.
This draft also proved that consensus rankings mean absolutely nothing when teams trust their own evaluations. Whether it’s Portland taking Yang Hansen earlier than expected or Brooklyn loading up on playmakers, successful franchises draft based on their own boards rather than popular opinion.
The 2025 NBA Draft will be remembered as the year teams decided to follow their convictions rather than conventional wisdom. Time will tell which approach produces the better results, but it certainly made for one hell of an entertaining night.
