2025 NBA Mock Draft: Cooper Flagg at No. 1? No doubt. But who else is a first-round pick?

It’s time for the Sweet 16, which makes this a perfect time to release my first mock draft for the 2025 NBA Draft.

Below is the first round for my mock. You can find this mock, plus a full second round and scouting reports for every single prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft Guide.

Some of the top prospects are still playing, including Duke’s Cooper Flagg and Maryland’s Derik Queen. Others have seen their seasons end already like Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe and Colorado State’s Nique Clifford. And then we’ve got a host of international prospects scattered among the college talents, like Noa Essengue and Nolan Traoré, both from France. Let’s get to it with the first round:

Things are trending up in Washington as of late. Last year’s second selection, Alex Sarr, is making major strides on both ends of the floor. And the Wizards’ young guards and wings are showing flashes on a game-to-game basis. But what the franchise really needs is a cornerstone, and that’s what Flagg would bring as a do-it-all forward who hustles like a madman, makes his teammates better as a passer, and has dialed in a knockdown jumper.

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While leading Duke to the Sweet 16, he’s showing why he’s both the best offensive and defensive prospect in this draft class, making him the safest No. 1 pick in ages. The Wizards have dealt with plenty of misses over the years, whereas Flagg is a sure thing. It’s his growth as a shot creator that will decide if he reaches his All-Star floor or soars to his Hall of Fame ceiling.

What a bummer for the Jazz if they end up with the second pick. Not only because they’ve tanked hard and even received a $100,000 fine. But because they already have drafted promising guards in recent years, including Isaiah Collier and Keyonte George. Ideally, they’d find a better-fitting prospect.

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Regardless, Harper is the best prospect of the bunch as a big-bodied, lefty combo guard with NBA blood in his veins, as the son of Ron Harper. And like his father, Harper has a high-floor with the skill, poise and playmaking instincts to dictate the game at his pace. But the fate of his jumper will determine whether he’s an All-Star or just one of the league’s many solid guards. If the Jazz end up with this pick, I’ll be wondering if they’ll look to trade down for a haul, just like Danny Ainge did ages ago when running the Celtics and flipped Markelle Fultz for Jayson Tatum.

Bailey is a ridiculous shot-making machine, capable of splashing contested jumpers from every spot on the floor with the swagger of a throwback bucket-getter. Placing him alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller would create an absurd scoring trio. But would it lead to winning basketball?

Bailey’s raw edges as a shot creator and defender, plus his shooting inconsistency, need sanding down to turn him into a full-on star. The Hornets might have no choice to take the swing though, given how well he’d potentially fit next to a fully realized Ball and Miller.

Zion Williamson is looking more and more like his prime self, so no matter how much his injury history is lingering in the back of everyone’s minds, he still remains the cornerstone of the Pelicans. Pairing him with players who can space the floor is paramount, especially if those players also offer similar explosive talents like Edgecombe does as a high-motor wing who flies out of nowhere for poster dunks and chase-down blocks.

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The Baylor freshman pairs his elite athleticism with a knockdown spot-up jumper and fearless slashing. Though he needs to improve his shot creation to become more of a primary creator, he’d be entering a ball-sharing offense in New Orleans.

Queen’s leaning buzzer-beating game-winner to send Maryland to the Sweet 16 is the shot of March Madness so far, and it captured why he’s such a highly touted prospect as a burly big with guard-like handles who dazzles with spin moves, and crafty finishes.

The Sixers selecting him would operate as both a hedge against the health of Joel Embiid, but also as a supporting piece alongside him since the Sixers need frontcourt depth and they could share the floor together. If Queen translates his velvet touch to the perimeter, he has offensive star upside, though his interior scoring, playmaking chops and magnetic rebounding alone give him tantalizing potential.

Jakučionis is a slick shot-creator with a creative passing gene and a fearless scoring ability, carving up defenses with crafty finishes, step-back jumpers, and jaw-dropping passes. And with D’Angelo Russell, De’Anthony Melton and Cam Thomas all entering free agency, point guard will be a position of need for the present and the future. As a freshman, Jakučionis would follow up his highlights with turnover brain-farts that derail the hype train. But he’s shown enough highs to warrant a top-10 selection if a team like the Nets can afford to be patient.

The Raptors need a point guard of the future, but not a true throwback who dominates touches. They need someone who can be the primary creator, but also play without the ball. That’s why Fears makes total sense. The Oklahoma freshman is a dynamic guard with a twitchy attacking style and a knack for coming through as a clutch shooter. He was one of college basketball’s youngest freshmen, and it showed with his shaky decision-making as a shooter and passer. But he has a feel for shot creation and a handle that lets him get anywhere on the floor, so he may only need time to emerge as a star.

Tyler Herro became an All-Star this season, showing his ability as a combo guard. But he needs a backcourt partner. Johnson is a clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease. But he needs to continue developing his point-guard skills while also honing his shot selection and dramatically improving his defense. Maybe there’s too much of the same thing between Herro and Johnson, but Johnson has flashed some playmaking skills that could emerge in the Miami system.

The Spurs can’t just let Victor Wembanyama bail everyone out on defense. They need more help by his side, and Murray-Boyles operates like a defensive savant the way he locks down every position, uses his ninja-quick hands to swipe at the ball, and inhales rebounds. He’s a special defensive presence that would fit perfectly on defense next to Wemby and Jeremy Sochan, giving them the size and length to have a dominant defensive frontcourt. The offensive fit could be a little clunky since Murray-Boyles is an unproven shooter, but he’s a bulldozer finisher with a playmaking feel. If he fixes his jumper, there’s All-Star upside.

Scoot Henderson has made some progress this season, but it’s still not clear if he’s capable of being the point guard of Portland’s future. Knueppel makes sense as a selection in this regard since he brings more than just a sharpshooter’s stroke thanks to his brainy pick-and-roll playmaking and crafty scoring feel. While he’s not a primary creator, he can be one of the team’s creators alongside Deni Avdija on the wing, Donovan Clingan from the high post, and Scoot in ball screens.

The Nikola Vučević and Zach Collins era has to end soon when their contracts are off the books in 2026, right? A center is a need. Maluach is a towering rim protector with switchable mobility, erasing shots at the rim and shadowing quick guards on the perimeter. But beyond dunking lobs, he’s a work in progress on offense with a lack of seasoning as a screener, shooter and creator. Such a raw skill set should come as no surprise since the South Sudan native didn’t start playing basketball until he was 13. So taking Maluach would make a lot of sense for the Bulls since he can learn as a rookie before getting heavier minutes moving forward.

Kyrie Irving will miss a chunk of next season thanks to a torn ACL, and he’s an aging free agent this summer anyway. The Mavericks need a long-term point guard. Traoré oozes upside with his size, blazing speed and shiftiness off the bounce. But he’s an inefficient scorer all over the floor who needs to improve his erratic decision-making to prove he’s worth the big swing. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has proven he’s unafraid to take risks, and I know you’re thinking that comment is about the boneheaded Luka Dončić trade, but in this case it’s more about the Dereck Lively selection. Lively was a raw player who proved to be an instant-impact contributor. Traoré could follow the same path if he falls in a situation that lets him play right away like the Mavericks roster would.

Clifford nearly led Colorado State to the Sweet 16, slinging a bullseye pass from the low post to a 3-point shooter, before Maryland hit a buzzer-beater to rip their hearts out. But the play was emblematic of Clifford’s game as a do-it-all wing who can pass when he needs to, which would make him a perfect fit with the Hawks alongside Trae Young. Clifford defends multiple positions, crashes the boards, and scores from everywhere. But as a super senior with only Mountain West pedigree, he lacks experience against high-level competition despite his age; his NCAA tournament success began to minimize that concern though.

The Rockets have a little bit of everything on their roster already, so taking a swing would make some logical sense for their front office. Demin has a rare ability at his size to make dazzling passes. But he’s also struggled to shoot and create his own shot against lengthy defenders, making him more of a love-him or hate-him prospect than a sure thing. Right now, with BYU in the Sweet 16, he’s looking more like a love-him prospect with his shots falling more frequently.

The Magic rank 25th in 3-point attempts and 30th in 3-point percentage. This pick needs to be used on a shooter who can handle a little bit, which makes Richardson an ideal fit. The Michigan State freshman is a skilled combo guard with a lethal midrange game and a poised pick-and-roll feel, looking like he downloaded the experience of his NBA veteran father, Jason Richardson. Jase didn’t inherit his father’s height or dunk contest athleticism though, so his smaller stature could cap his upside. But what the Magic need is shooting next to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and their own blossoming talents perfectly complement Richardson.

Another French guy in San Antonio. And why not? Essengue is a toolsy forward with a fluid handle, dynamic finishing package, and highly versatile defense. But his long-term upside hinges on the jumper clicking. The Spurs are developing a strong track record of helping shooters. And if it doesn’t, his finishing and versatile defense are enough to make him a great French fit next to Wemby.

Bryant is a rangy, athletic forward who projects as a highly versatile defender. He’s raw on offense though, as shown by his up-and-down performances with Arizona going to the Sweet 16. Beyond his cutting, he needs to improve as a shooter to earn minutes in high-leverage games.

McNeeley didn’t close the season the way he would’ve wanted to, making only 14 of his final 49 shots, which included a loss to Creighton in the Big East tournament semifinal and a loss to Florida in the second round of the NCAA tournament. But despite his poor shooting percentages, scouts still believe in his upside as a sharpshooting wing with superb instincts moving with the ball, and the touch to splash from deep ranges. Though he doesn’t project as a primary shot creator, his feel as a connective passer gives him exactly the type of skill set to fit next to a star like Anthony Edwards.

Wolf is a 7-footer who has helped lead Michigan to the Sweet 16 by playing a slick style with risky passes and step-back jumpers that made him a highlight factory. But he’s also a turnover machine and his shooting numbers are shaky, making him more of a raw bet who needs time to prove he can match his flash with substance. At the least, pairing him with Jakučionis in Brooklyn would make for a lot of fun games in the years to come.

Beringer would be a classic Sam Presti pick. Beringer began playing basketball only three years ago, which makes him a raw project, but also makes his natural talents all the more impressive playing this season for Cedevita in France and the EuroCup. The Thunder don’t really need him to contribute today considering how deep the roster is. But he’s a massive, long-term swing as a center with the quickness of a guard, giving him immense defensive versatility to build on for years to come.

Riley has dynamic driving ability and playmaking instincts that scream upside as a jumbo-sized, shot-creating wing. Selecting him would follow the same philosophy that the Heat took with Kel’el Ware, betting that their culture and developmental success could maximize Riley’s talents. But his jumper is streaky, and his defense is unreliable since he is so lean physically and lacks fundamentals.

The Pacers have been one of the league’s best teams for a few months now, posting the seventh-best net rating ever since the NBA Cup. But looking ahead, Myles Turner will be a free agent this summer, which means finding another big man could be a priority. Newell has springs in his legs, regularly slamming lobs and swatting shots. Tyrese Haliburton would find him more than anyone ever has. Even though his discipline reflects his youth, his energetic style suggests he’ll someday become a highly versatile defender that could help fortify this Pacers defense.

Clint Capela is an upcoming free agent, so even though Onyeka Okongwu is a quality center the Hawks will need to find another one. Sorber has a brick-house frame and the throwback skill set to match with strong screens, soft-touch finishes and gritty drop-coverage instincts. Trae Young could make his life easier than it has ever been, just like Trae does for all his bigs. But to be more than a role player, Sorber needs to tap into the flashes he shows as a shooter while also improving his perimeter defense.

No matter where the Wizards actually end up on lottery night, their late first-round pick should be used to find a player that can help bring more positive, winning qualities to the organization. Fleming is a hustler who drains spot-up jumpers and brings energy on defense, swatting shots and snagging boards. But he has some real warts as a ball-handler with a lack of experience against high-level competition, so teams will have to feel real confident his role player skill set will translate. The Wizards can afford to take that risk, especially after taking Flagg with their lottery pick.

After selecting Richardson earlier in the first round, here’s another shooter for the Magic. Evans is a sharpshooting wing with movement versatility and a microwave scoring ability. Though his lean frame keeps him out of the paint, that matters far less for Orlando’s roster given its stars already live in the paint and just need more space to operate.

Gonzalez is a high-motor wing with great defensive tools and a slashing style on offense. If his jumper and handle develop, he could be a versatile two-way starter. The Nets can afford to be patient with a player who barely even played off the bench overseas, instead valuing the upside he showed playing for his youth teams.

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Another overseas pick here for the Nets. Saraf is a crafty lefty playmaker who relies on guile, footwork and body control. Limited shooting and athleticism could cap his upside, but his positional size and skill could be hard to pass up.

Following the sale of the franchise, outgoing Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck has been open about how second-apron penalties, not rising luxury tax penalties, are what will force the team to make some changes. Even without them though, the Celtics need to sure up the frontcourt. Al Horford is old. Kristaps Porzingis is injury prone. Fortunately there are a ton of options in the late first round that fit the bill, including Raynaud, who has leveled up every year at Stanford, turning into a player who pops 3s, slashes to the rim with a smooth handle, and makes eye-popping passes. As a talented passer who also offers solid defense, there’s little reason to think the Frenchman won’t carve out an NBA role.

The Suns still need more bigs after making multiple changes at the trade deadline. Kalkbrenner is a throwback 7-footer who owns the paint, swatting shots with his giant wingspan and dunking everything in sight. As a super senior, he’s mature enough to plug into Phoenix’s rotation right away and earn minutes. With his years in college, he’s also developed some sneaky passing and shooting skills that hint at higher upside. At the least, he can help facilitate as a big in the Suns’ offense.

James Harden has turned back the clock in Los Angeles. But that doesn’t mean the Clippers shouldn’t be thinking about an heir apparent for The Beard. Pettiford comes off the bench for Auburn and has helped lead the team to the Sweet 16, showing his skill as a combo guard with a sniper’s touch. Pettiford rains 3s and lethal floaters while flashing playmaking savvy and a bulldog mentality on both ends. But his smaller size means he’ll need to clean up his shot selection and decision-making to max out his game at the next level. Playing next to Harden could help him in that journey, just like Harden was a part of the development of Tyrese Maxey during his days in Philadelphia.