The 2024 NBA draft just ended Thursday, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the next wave of basketball stars set to join the league.
Although some viewed the 2024 NBA draft class as weak, the same cannot be said about the 2025 draft. Cooper Flagg (Duke) and Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey (Rutgers) are some of the big names that have the potential to be selected atop the draft. Or will the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft be an international player for the 16th time in history? (We’re looking at you, Nolan Traore of France.)
A French player has been drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in consecutive years — Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks, 2024) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs, 2023). At least two international players have been drafted in the top 10 every year since 2013.
Here’s USA TODAY Sports’ way-too-early 2025 NBA mock draft, for the entire first round:
1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
Forward, 6-foot-9, 205 pounds
2. Ace Bailey, Rutgers
Forward, 6-foot-8, 210 pounds
3. Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Guard, 6-foot-5, 205 pounds
4. V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor
Guard, 6-foot-4, 185 pounds
5. Hugo Gonzalez, Real Madrid
Forward, 6-foot-6, 207 pounds
6. Tre Johnson, Texas
Guard, 6-foot-5, 184 pounds
7. Nolan Traore, Saint-Quentin (France)
Guard, 6-foot-3, 175 pounds
8. Liam McNeeley, UConn
Forward, 6-foot-7, 190 pounds
9. Khaman Maluach, Duke
Center, 7-foot-2, 250 pounds
10. Egor Demin, BYU
Guard, 6-foot-8, 190 pounds
11. Michael Ruzic, Spain
Forward, 6-foot-8, 199 pounds
12. Noa Essengue, France
Forward, 6-foot-9, 194 pounds
13. Jalil Bethea, Miami
Guard, 6-foot-5, 175 pounds
14. Isaiah Evans, Duke
Guard/forward, 6-foot-6, 175 pounds
15. Ian Jackson, North Carolina
Guard, 6-foot-4, 180 pounds
16. Karter Knox, Arkansas
Forward, 6-foot-6, 225 pounds
17. Kanaan Carlyle, Indiana
Guard, 6-foot-3, 185 pounds
18. Drake Powell, North Carolina
Guard, 6-foot-5, 185 pounds
19. Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
Forward, 6-foot-7, 240 pounds
20. Caleb Foster, Duke
Guard, 6-foot-5, 202 pounds
21. Rocco Zikarsky, Brisbane Bullets
Center, 7-foot-2, 250 pounds
22. Xavier Booker, Michigan State
Forward, 6-foot-11, 220 pounds
23. Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Forward, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds
24. Derrion Reid, Alabama
Forward, 6-foot-7, 200 pounds
25. Joson Sanon, Arizona State
Guard, 6-foot-4, 195 pounds
26. Dame Sarr, FC Barcelona
Forward, 6-foot-5
27. Donavan Freeman, Syracuse
Forward, 6-foot-9, 205 pounds
28. Adou Thiero, Arkansas
Forward, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds
29. Alex Karaban, UConn
Forward, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds
30. Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana
Forward, 6-foot-8, 217 pounds
