Unlike the 2024 class(it wasn’t that bad), the 2025 NBA Draft is full of excitement. It is loaded with talented players who are projected to have all-star-worthy careers in the association. With the college season already underway, you can expect a few prospects to rise throughout the season, including projected second-rounders, to validate their spot in the first round.
With the NBA season ongoing, we can safely say which teams will have the best chance to secure the top 14 picks, aka the lottery. Let’s check out the 2025 NBA first-round mock draft for all 30 picks here on TPS.
Which prospects will go to your team in the 2025 NBA draft?
1. Washington Wizards – F Cooper Flagg (Duke)
This wasn’t really surprising, considering that the Duke freshman was invited to train with the USA Basketball Camp prior to the 2024 Olympic games. At 6 foot 9 and playing either the three or four spot, you’d be hard-pressed to find any flaws in Flagg’s game. He’s an elite player on both sides of the court.
Comparison: Scottie Pippen
2. New Orleans Pelicans – G Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
While Harper isn’t an elite athlete at the shooting guard spot, he is a scorer on all three levels. But Harper has a wide body, and at 6 foot 6, he can easily post up smaller defenders or shoot the three whenever the switch comes. Harper is getting buckets with ease in college ball. His scoring outbursts aren’t surprising, though. After all, he has basketball genetics in his blood as he’s the son of former NBA player Ron Harper.
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Comparison: James Harden
3. Utah Jazz – F Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
Back-to-back lottery picks for Rutgers. When was the last time that happened? If Dylan Harper isn’t an athletic specimen, well, Ace Bailey is the complete opposite of that. At 6 foot 9, Bailey is a freak athlete with an insane amount of athleticism. He has the strength to take the contact and convert a tough shot with the ball in his hands. The only knock on his game is his tendency to fall in love with outside shots rather than take it to the basket.
Comparison: Brandon Miller
4. Philadelphia 76ers – G Egor Demin (BYU)
A 6 foot 9 point guard, BYU’s Egor Demin handles the ball with ease and knows when to take his shot or pass the ball with accuracy. The Russian-born Demin is arguably the best prospect to come out of BYU since Jimmer Fredette. If he continues to play well for the rest of the college season, Demin will get some serious looks at the top three of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Comparison: Taller Josh Giddey
5. Toronto Raptors – G/F VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Edgecombe still needs to improve his shooting, but his raw talent at either the shooting guard or small forward position is already there. He is an explosive athlete and could easily get to the rim. Many pundits have suggested that his game translates well in the NBA rather than in college ball.
Comparison: Jalen Green
6. Charlotte Hornets – G Tre Johnson (Texas)
Tre Johnson is a bucket on all three levels. While he isn’t super athletic compared to his peers, Johnson knows how to use his body well and has a good understanding of when to attack or take a good shot after separating from his defender. As a result, Johnson is now putting huge numbers in Texas this season.
Comparison: Joe Johnson
Also Read: Ranking All 30 NBA Teams’ Starting Power Forwards From WORST To FIRST For The 2024-25 Season
7. Portland Trail Blazers – G Nolan Traore (France)
Blink, and you’ll miss Nolan Traore in transition. He’s lightning-quick and very skilled with the ball in his hands. While he isn’t an above-the-rim type of player, Traore does have a smooth jumper and has shown that his pull-up game is already at an elite level.
Comparison: Tony Parker
8. Detroit Pistons – G/F Kon Knueppel (Duke)
Cooper Flagg isn’t the only Duke freshman impressing scouts in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft. Knueppel is shooting up in the draft boards due to his shooting prowess in college. He can quickly light up the scoreboard with his outside shots and hustle plays. His game bodes well in the NBA due to the league’s emphasis on three-pointers in recent years.
Comparison: JJ Redick
9. Indiana Pacers – C Khaman Maluach (Duke)
South Sudanese Khaman Maluach is an intimidating force in the middle. He’s 7 feet 2 inches tall, with a 7 foot 5 inches wingspan and reportedly a 9’8 “standing reach. Maluach is extremely raw as a prospect but has the potential to become a menace in the NBA in a few years. He already has an NBA-ready body.
Comparison: Derrick Lively
10. Chicago Bulls – C Derik Queen (Maryland)
Queen is a double-double machine for Maryland. He’s playing like a grown man amongst college boys in the NCAA. He isn’t super athletic as a center but knows how to utilize his skills on the court. He’s a good passer for his size and has soft hands around the rim.
Comparison: Al Jefferson
11. Sacramento Kings – F Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
While a bit undersized at the power forward position at 6 foot 7, Collin Murray-Boyles is a standout athlete on both ends of the floor. He doesn’t shoot many outside jumpers, but he can create his own shots off the dribble and has a good touch around the basket. Murray-Boyles is a good cutter on offense and doesn’t need the ball much to be effective on the court.
Comparison: Scottie Barnes
12. Utah Jazz (from Minnesota Timberwolves) – G Boogie Fland (Arkansas)
Arguably one of the best point guards in the 2025 NBA Draft class, Boogie Fland is capable of running a team’s offense on any given night. He is quick, shifty, and has a very good vision on the court, often setting his teammates up to succeed. Fland’s defense is also exceptional at the college level.
Comparison: Dennis Schroder
13. San Antonio Spurs – F Asa Newell (Georgia)
Newell has surprised a lot of folks in college this season. Aside from being athletic, he has a quick second jump – a rarity for a big man today. While his outside game is still a long way from being at an NBA level, his inside game has been remarkably superb so far. Newell can run the floor like a guard and isn’t afraid to bring the ball to the other side of the court after a rebound.
Comparison: Duke Marvin Bagley III
14. Atlanta Hawks (from Los Angeles Lakers) – G/F Will Riley (Illinois)
At 6 foot 6, Riley has shot up the 2025 NBA draft boards due to his shooting display in Illinois. He isn’t super athletic as a player, but he knows how to create separation from his defender. Riley’s three-point shot is already at an NBA level.
Comparison: Zaccharie Risacher
15. Brooklyn Nets – F Liam McNeeley (UConn)
McNeeley moves the floor well for a 6-foot-8 athlete. He has an NBA-level three-point shot in his arsenal but is also a sneakily athletic prospect whenever he attacks the basket. While McNeeley isn’t projected to become a star, he does have the qualities to become a very good NBA player for a long time.
Comparison: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
16. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami Heat) – G Drake Powell (North Carolina)
It’s quite hard to ignore the high flying act of NC’s Drake Powell. He can get up with ease. Powell’s offensive skills are still developing, but defensively, he’s an elite athlete on that end, and that bodes well for his chances in the 2025 NBA Draft. There’s hope, though, that his offense will translate better on an NBA court compared to college. For now, Powell’s ceiling is attached to his versatility on defense.
Comparison: Victor Oladipo
17. San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta Hawks) – G Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
At 6 foot 6, Kasparas Jakucionis has the right tools to succeed at the NBA level. He has a good-looking three-point shot in his offensive repertoire and is an above-average defender. The Lithuanian-born shooting guard can quickly light up the scoreboard whenever his shots are falling.
Comparison: Bogdan Bogdanovic
18. Brooklyn Nets (from Milwaukee Bucks) – G Ben Saraf (Israel)
The Israel-born Saraf is making waves in the international scene right now. He was the MVP of the FIBA U18 Eurobasket in 2024. At 6 foot 5, he can create his shots off the dribble or drive the ball to the basket with ease. Saraf is also a willing passer and will be happy to pass an open shot for a better-quality attempt for his teammates.
Comparison: Goran Dragic
19. Orlando Magic (from Denver Nuggets) – F Hugo Gonzalez (Spain)
Arguably Spain’s best NBA prospect in recent memory, Gonzalez is an athletic specimen with a decent three-point shot in his offensive arsenal and could finish well above the rim. He moves well as either a shooting guard or a small forward and isn’t afraid to take big shots in close games.
Comparison: Christian Braun
20. Golden State Warriors – G Ian Jackson (North Carolina)
Ian Jackson has a nice feel for the game due to his insane hops and acrobatic finishes. He loves to drive to the basket and convert difficult shots around multiple defenders. Jackson does not shy away from contact at the rim at all. His three-point shot needs a little bit of consistency, but boy, this kid could jump.
Comparison: Ja Morant Lite
21. Houston Rockets (from Phoenix Suns) – F Noa Essengue (France)
Some 2025 NBA Mock Drafts are high on Essengue, but he’s still a fairly raw prospect who needs a ton of work in order to succeed at the NBA level. At 6 foot 10, he has a decent size for a wing combo and moves the floor well. A team needs to be patient with his development as he’s one of the youngest prospects in this class.
Comparison: Jabari Smith Jr.
22. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Los Angeles Clippers) – F/C Johni Broome (Auburn)
One of the older prospects in this class, Broome, has the talent to become a good backup forward in the league for a long time. He has a good face-up game down the block and has a three-point shot in his game. A well-known hard worker; teams value a player like Broome.
Comparison: Carlos Boozer
23. Brooklyn Nets – F J.T. Toppin (Texas Tech)
Toppin is a talented big man in the pick-and-roll. Most of the points he garnered in college were from post-ups. However, his jump shot needs some improvement, as he needs his feet set for it to be effective.
Comparison: Domantas Sabonis Lite
24. Memphis Grizzlies – C Rocco Zikarsky (Australia)
A big man with light feet, Zikarsky has the tools to become a very good basketball player at the NBA level. He can run the floor and score off of lobs. Zikarsky’s a great rebounder for his size and has shown that he’s an elite rim protector whenever he’s engaged.
Comparison: Rik Smits
25. Dallas Mavericks – G K.J. Lewis (Arizona)
Lewis has an NBA-ready body and could score at all three levels. He also has a good midrange shot and could draw fouls to get to the free-throw line. The only knock on his game is his indecision with the ball in his hands and the slow release of his jump shot.
Comparison: Moses Moody
26. Orlando Magic – G Kam Jones (Marquette)
Kam Jones has a good feel to his game and is an unselfish player. He knows when to score and when to pass the ball when needed. Jones is a good rebounder for a guard. He has a much-polished game due to being one of the oldest prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Comparison: Lance Stephenson
27. Brooklyn Nets (from Houston Rockets) – G Jalil Bethea (Miami)
A five-star recruit, Bethea is far from a polished prospect but offers a ton of upside at the NBA level. He has a good midrange game and isn’t shy about drawing fouls with his drives to the basket.
Comparison: Taller Brandon Jennings
28. Los Angeles Clippers (from Oklahoma City Thunder) – F Michael Ruzic (Croatia)
Ruzic doesn’t force the action but plays well to his strengths. He’s good in pick-and-roll action, has good hands around the basket, and has a decent shot from the midrange.
Comparison: Santi Aldama
29. Boston Celtics – C Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)
If Kalkbrenner were 20 years old, he’d be a lottery pick. However, he’ll be 23 by the time the 2025 NBA Draft arrives. He can score in a variety of ways when near the basket, where he’s virtually unstoppable.
Comparison: Nets Brook Lopez
30. Cleveland Cavaliers – F Alex Karaban (UConn)
Karaban is a modern wing who can extend the floor due to his three-point shot and could score floaters down the lane. He’s not shy of doing the dirty work around the basket and is a good passer for his position.
Comparison: Jared Dudley
