2025 NBA Draft Recap: Flagg Goes No. 1 to Mavericks, Bailey Surprise Pick for Jazz

The 2025 NBA Draft was a night of excitement and surprises, with several standout players being selected by their new teams. Here are the biggest highlights and surprises from the draft.

Cooper Flagg: The No. 1 Overall Pick

The Dallas Mavericks selected Duke forward Cooper Flagg first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. Flagg, 18, has long been expected to be the first selection in this year’s draft. The Maine native reclassified to the high school class of 2024 two years ago, putting him on track to be the No. 1 overall pick Wednesday night. Flagg spent one year with the Blue Devils in college, leading them to a Final Four appearance. The top recruit in his class coming out of high school, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists over 37 games at Duke.

Surprise Picks of the Night

The draft’s first surprise of the night came at No. 5, when the Utah Jazz selected Rutgers’ Ace Bailey. It was unclear where Bailey would go in the draft after he didn’t work out for any team leading up to Wednesday, but the Jazz ultimately decided to roll the dice. The most shocking pick came after the lottery, when the Portland Trail Blazers took center Yang Hansen from China. He was expected by most to be a potential second-round selection. Instead, the Blazers made a bold move to grab the 20-year-old at No. 16.

Notable Trades and Moves

While there were several trades during the evening, very few current NBA players switched teams. The most notable name to be moved was center Mark Williams, who was traded from the Hornets to the Phoenix Suns for two first-round picks. (The Suns also selected center Khaman Maluach with the 10th overall pick.) One of the teams who stood pat was the Brooklyn Nets, who had five picks in the first round and made every selection. All five players are expected to remain with the Nets, per multiple reports.

The Future of Basketball

The 2025 NBA Draft is just one step in the journey for these young players as they prepare for their professional careers in the league. With so much talent and potential on display during the draft, it’s clear that the future of basketball is bright. Whether you’re a fan of Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, or any of the other talented players selected this year, there’s no doubt that these young men will make their mark in the league in the years to come.