NBA Draft 2025: Live First-Round Grading for Every Pick

It's finally time for the 2025 NBA Draft, which means players like Cooper Flagg will finally hear their names called as they begin their professional careers.

After months of anticipation and plenty of drama , we will soon have answers about the future of the top prospects in basketball. Like with any draft, it is impossible to predict exactly which pick will make a front office look smart down the road and which could potentially cost someone their job.

But we still are going to make a valiant effort to try, so that's exactly what we are here to do. We've given our predictions about where each player will land, we've read all of the experts , and we've interviews some of the biggest names (e.g. Kon Knueppel and Jeremiah Fears ) as part of the pre-draft process.

Now, it's time to offer up our best attempt at analyzing how each player is going to fit with their new teams:

No. 1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Duke F

It was impossible for the Mavericks to screw this up after they shockingly won the lottery before the 2025 NBA Draft. They simply had to do exactly what everyone expected and select Cooper Flagg. Maybe he isn’t on the same “timeline” as Anthony Davis, but his potential two-way dominance gives Dallas an entirely new lease on life in an era following Luka Dončić.

We have to remember that Flagg skipped his senior year of high school and is still incredibly young, so if he struggles out of the gates, have some patience. This is one of the best players to come into the league in years, which is why we called him one of the best defensive prospects we’ve ever evaluated when he was just 15 years old.

Grade: A+

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, Rutgers G

It doesn’t matter whether or not the Spurs have a lead guard with De’Aaron Fox already on its roster. They can figure out whether or not Harper can play alongside Fox or 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year winner Stephon Castle. If not, that is a problem for them to figure out in the future. In the meanwhile, they can have one of the most exciting self-creators at the rim you will find out of a backcourt prospect. That is a major key to success for lead guards looking for success in the pros, and it’s one of Harper’s biggest strengths.

Grade: A

No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers: V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor G

This was a particularly strange pre-draft process for the Philadelphia 76ers. It’s wild that a team of its caliber was even in a position to get the No. 3 overall pick to begin with, but that’s exactly what happened. And it’s also one of the reasons why Ace Bailey may have wanted to avoid the potentially crowded roster in Philly. Instead, the Sixers will add V.J. Edgecombe from Baylor. He isn’t exactly the most seamless fit alongside Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, but he is a solid defensive playmaker who can shoot the ball well. He is also an excellent athlete who can get to the rim and dunk the basketball, which are skills that translate well from the NCAA to the NBA.

Grade: B

No. 4 Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel, Duke W

The Hornets made an interesting decision to hold steady and draft the player who they felt would best fit their culture in Kon Knueppel, rather than the player who is arguably the most talented with Ace Bailey still on the board. Knueppel is a fantastic movement shooter who is able to make an impact as a winning player even without the offense running through him. But make no mistake: Knueppel played well even when Flagg was out, too, winning MVP of the ACC tournament. Look for him to play a long career in the NBA — so long as he is able to stand his ground on the defensive end of the floor.

Grade: B+

No. 5 Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, Rutgers W

While some speculated that Ace Bailey would fall quite far in the 2025 NBA Draft, he still remained a top-5 pick when it was all said and done. This is a home-run swing for the Jazz, which makes sense as they try to find the next face of their franchise. Maybe they found that with Bailey, who many speculated would end up playing for one of his preferred destinations in the Eastern Conference like the Brooklyn Nets or Washington Wizards.

But he has a chance to prove his incredible talent in Utah and earn plenty of opportunities to play through his mistakes. Even if the Jazz don’t win a lot of games with Bailey, this franchise wasn’t in a position to pass up the best player available. This is a high-risk, high-reward pick that makes sense for Utah if he doesn’t realize his full potential. If he does, though, that’s great news for new Jazz executive Austin Ainge.

Grade: B-

No. 6 Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson, Texas G

Maybe the Wizards didn’t get a chance to draft Cooper Flagg or one of the potential stars from Rutgers in Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey. But they added a remarkably impressive scorer with Tre Johnson as they continue to build out their core. Maybe it’s not the flashy pick they expected after they finished with one of the worst records in the league, but this is an immediate boost to their offense who reportedly impressed during workouts in the pre-draft process. Expect him to learn well from experienced veterans on the roster in Washington like Khris Middleton and C.J. McCollum.

Grade: A-

No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma G

Under new executive Joe Dumars, the Pelicans made a wildly fun pick with Jeremiah Fears. While he is the second-youngest prospect from the United States in the 2025 NBA Draft, he was still one of the most dominant scorers in the SEC last season. Fears is lighting fast, a very good floor general and an above-average rebounder for his position. He will need to show improved efficiency from beyond the arc to succeed in the pros, but if that development comes along, he should make a lot of highlights for the Pelicans.

Grade: B+

No. 8 Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin, BYU G

If he hits, this grade is going to make me look quite dumb in a few years. We had the Nets selecting Egor Demin in our final mock draft , but predicted that Brooklyn would not select him until after the lottery was over. Instead, he was picked with one of the first ten selections in the 2025 NBA Draft.

He is an unbelievably gifted playmaker for someone his size, which was always going to make him appealing. His upside is high enough that it could easily work out for the franchise, and the Nets have enough draft capital to take a few bites at the apple. But he struggled mightily against tougher competition in the NCAA, which means he might take an especially long time to adjust to playing against the best players in the world in the NBA.

Grade: C

No. 9 Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina F

South Carolina sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles is one of those players who could easily play more than a decade in the NBA if he is able to figure out his jump shot. Without it, though, his future could get murky for him on the Raptors. Murray-Boyles is wildly intelligent and one of those most versatile defenders we have seen over the last few years. Without a jumper, though, life could get difficult for a player who is just 6-foot-6 barefoot playing against NBA players in the frontcourt.

Grade: B-

No. 10 Phoenix Suns: Khaman Maluach, Duke C

After re-acquiring the rights to the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft as part of the Kevin Durant trade , the Phoenix Suns found tremendous value for a roster that lacks youth. Even though he isn’t necessarily the best player in the class, the Suns have to feel like they got their dream scenario with Duke big man Khaman Maluach still available at No. 10 overall. Maluach is an ideal lob threat to pair with Devin Booker and Jalen Green, adding exceptional length to a team that did not previously have much depth in the frontcourt. Maybe it will take him some time to play impactful minutes, but they can also move him along slowly with former Hornets big man Mark Williams also traded to the Suns.

Grade: A+

No. 11 Memphis Grizzlies (via Portland Trail Blazers): Cedric Coward, Washington State W

Cedric Coward had one of the most unique journeys to the pros of anyone you will ever hear about. While his improbable story also comes with a relatively small sample size against top competition in the NCAA, the Grizzlies are truly the perfect team to draft him. They have the ideal player development system, will have minutes to offer him with Desmond Bane now in Orlando and he can start off in a complimentary role playing alongside a proven player like Ja Morant. The Grizzlies now have rookies from Washington State two years in a row, and even if Coward can produce something relatively similar to what Jaylen Wells did last season, this is a fantastic pick.

Grade: A-

No. 12 Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue, France F

For the fourth year in a row, a French player was selected in the lottery of the NBA Draft. The youngest player in this class aside from Cooper Flagg, there is a lot to like about 18-year-old Essengue for someone his age. He did not get a ton of minutes during his championship series while playing in Germany, but he showed some genuine flashes in the postseason while overseas. Don’t expect Essengue to make an immediate impact in the NBA, but if he’s given the time to keep growing his game, this is a smart gamble for a team just looking to add talent.

Grade: B-

No. 13 New Orleans Pelicans (via Atlanta Hawks, via Sacramento Kings): Derik Queen, Maryland C

Under new executive Joe Dumars, the Pelicans were long rumored to have heavy interest in Derik Queen. After playing for arguably the best high school team ever alongside Flagg, as well as Asa Newell and Liam McNeeley, he was one of the breakout stars during March Madness at Maryland. He isn’t known for his athleticism and he struggled at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine , but it hasn’t impacted his ability to play impactful and winning basketball. So long as he can hold up as a defender, this should make the Pelicans very fun to watch, especially after also adding Jeremiah Fears earlier in the lottery.

Grade: B+

No. 14 San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta Hawks): Carter Bryant, Arizona W

Carter Bryant didn’t get a ton of opportunity to showcase his full potential during his one-and-done campaign at Arizona. But purely as a basketball player, he has all of the intangible skills needed to succeed at the next level. Bryant was one of the fastest players at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine and had incredible vertical pop, too, which he showcased during his limited minutes in the NCAA with some highlight dunks. He plays hard, he shoots the ball well and he has shown a lot of promise as a defensive prospect as well.

Grade: A-

No. 15 Oklahoma City Thunder (via Miami Heat): Thomas Sorber, Georgetown C

This is a truly perfect draft position for Georgetown big man Thomas Sorber. While he had limited playing time because he got hurt during his freshman campaign, he won’t have to make an immediate impact because Oklahoma City already has such a crowded rotation. He will have plenty of time to heal from his injury and potentially develop in the G League. With an elite ability to read the game and a strong defensive impact and rim protector, the Thunder will find a way to make the most out of his talent and his length.

Grade: A

No. 16 Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando Heat): Yang Hansen, China C

China’s Yang Hansen ranked No. 36 overall on our consensus mock draft and was not considered very likely to hear his name in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Yang did not receive an invitation to the green room at Barclays Center. However, as one of the standout performers of the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, the Trail Blazers took a massive swing with this big man. He is a really appealing gamble, it’s just hard to imagine they needed to pick him as early as they did as he was probably going to be available later in the first round.

Grade: C-

No. 17 Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit Pistons, via New York Knicks): Joan Beringer, France C

France’s Joan Beringer can learn from four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year big man Rudy Gobert playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is unlikely to get many minutes for Chris Finch, who tends to value his more experienced players. Beringer, however, offers up massive potential in the frontcourt after leading Slovenia in blocks this past season. With a wingspan more than 7-foot-4, expect him to eventually return value as a rim protector in the NBA.

Grade: C+

No. 18 Utah Jazz (via Washington Wizards, via Memphis Grizzlies): Walter Clayton Jr., Florida G

After winning Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA men’s Final Four for Florida last season, Walter Clayton Jr. was able to prove why he earned first-round consideration . There is not a tremendous track record of success for players his size who were drafted at his age in the NBA. But much like Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, he could potentially return solid value as a proven scorer who can shoot beyond the arc sooner rather than later while in the pros.

Grade: B

No. 19 Brooklyn Nets (via Milwaukee Bucks): Nolan Traoré, France G

No. 20 Miami Heat (via Golden State Warriors)

No. 21 Utah Jazz (via Minnesota Timberwolves)

No. 22 Brooklyn Nets (via Los Angeles Lakers)

No. 23 New Orleans Pelicans (via Indiana Pacers)

No. 24 Oklahoma City Thunder (via L.A. Clippers)

No. 25 Orlando Magic (via Denver Nuggets)

No. 26 Brooklyn Nets (via New York Knicks)

No. 27 Brooklyn Nets (via Houston Rockets)

No. 28 Boston Celtics

No. 29 Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland Cavaliers)

No. 30 L.A. Clippers (via Oklahoma City Thunder)

When is the 2025 NBA Draft? How to watch

The 2025 NBA Draft is set to begin Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NBA Draft 2025 live first-round grades for every pick