Starting 5 Daily Newsletter

Starting 5, June 26: Flagg goes first

Cooper Flagg led a night full of trades and emotion to tip off the 2025 Draft. Round 2 gets underway tonight (8 ET, ESPN).

NBA.com Staff

June 26, 2025 2:44 PM

The Maine Event is officially a Maverick.

Cooper Flagg, Adam Silver

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

June 26, 2025

30 Dreams Fulfilled: Cooper Flagg led a historic & emotional first round of the draft

First Look: Flagg’s rise to No. 1 overall and why NBA vets are already impressed

All-Access: A ‘delusional dream,’ a bus ride to Barclays & an all-time high school reunion

Second Round Preview: Key prospects still on the board & 7 teams making their first picks

Draft Night Frames: The joy, style and snapshots of an unforgettable night

BUT FIRST … ⏰

One round down, one to go…

2025 NBA Draft Results

The 2025 NBA Draft presented by State Farm concludes tonight with Round 2 (8 ET, ESPN). Stay tapped in with the NBA App for the latest news and access.

1. FLAGG GOES NO. 1, EMOTIONS & TRADES HIGHLIGHT FIRST ROUND

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

On May 12, the Mavs surprised the hoops world by winning the Draft Lottery despite having just a 1.8% of landing the No. 1 pick.

45 days later, there was no surprise who the Mavs selected with that coveted pick – taking Duke forward Cooper Flagg – the presumptive top pick since he announced he was entering the Draft. | Draft Board

In Flagg, the Mavs get a player that is pro-ready – having competed against Team USA last summer in preparation for the Olympics – and capable of making an impact on both ends of the court
Cooper’s Reaction: “It feels surreal. I’m just playing the moments back in my head, standing up, hearing my name, and it went so fast. It feels like a blur. But I just feel really blessed and honored just to be here.” | More on Flagg’s journey in Section 2 ⬇️

Rounding Out The Top 5: The top of the draft went as most predicted – nearly matching the Consensus Mock Draft – but that didn’t change the emotions felt by each player as they realized their NBA dream.

2. Dylan Harper (Rutgers ➡️ Spurs): “I almost cried. There’s every emotion you could possibly feel, I felt during that moment. I was ready to get with that organization, man, ready to get things rolling.”
3. VJ Edgecombe (Baylor ➡️ 76ers): “I don’t have no words. It’s just surreal. I work hard, and everything is paying off. But the work don’t stop.”
4. Kon Knueppel (Duke ➡️ Hornets): “It’s such a blessing from God to be able to enter the NBA, but to be able to share it with your family is beyond comprehension.”
5. Ace Bailey (Rutgers ➡️ Jazz): “The little kid in me is smiling hard right now, because I know the hard work, the sacrifice, the blood, the sweat, the tears not just for me but my family put into this.”

Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, Kon Knueppel

Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images

Entering the 2025 Draft, Rutgers had never had a top 5 pick. On Wednesday, they had two with Harper and Bailey.

Bailey: “I almost shed a tear when his name was called like it was mine. He’s a brother to me. That’s my day one. We’re brothers.”

Along with a pair of Scarlet Knights, the top 10 featured a trio of Blue Devils with Flagg (No. 1) and Knueppel (No. 4) joined by Khaman Maluach, who was taken 10th by Houston in a pick that is headed to Phoenix as part of the Kevin Durant trade.

Maluach’s Journey: At 14, the South Sudan native was the youngest player to ever enroll in the NBA Academy. On Wednesday, he became the highest pick out of NBA Academy Africa
For only the third time in the modern Draft era (since 1966), three players from the same college were selected in the top 10 of a single NBA Draft – Florida in 2007, and Duke in 2019 and 2025
Youth Is Served: Wednesday marked the first Draft in the modern era in which the first 8+ picks were all college freshmen

Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

While the Draft is all about the future, the opportunities that this year’s Draft class enjoys are built on a foundation laid by the game’s pioneers years ago.

Ahead of the 13th pick, the NBA celebrated the 75th anniversary of the 1950 Draft, when NBA Pioneers Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton became the first Black players to enter the NBA, breaking the color barrier.

The pick that followed that celebration was one of a handful of selections that changed hands throughout the first round. | Trade Tracker

Pelicans Acquire Queen: Atlanta traded Derik Queen (No. 13) to New Orleans for Asa Newell (No. 23) and a 2026 first-round pick
Jazz Trade For Clayton Jr.: Washington traded Walter Clayton Jr. (No. 18) to Utah for Will Riley (No. 21) and three future second-round picks
Grizzlies Acquire Coward: Portland traded Cedric Coward (No. 11) to Memphis for Yang Hansen (No. 16), a 2028 first-round pick and two second-round picks
Kings Trade For Clifford: OKC traded the rights to Nique Clifford (No. 24) to Sacramento for a protected 2027 first-round pick
Reports: Suns Get Hornets’ Williams: Phoenix acquired Mark Williams from Charlotte for Vasilije Micić, the 29th pick in the 2025 Draft (Liam McNeeley) and a 2029 first-round pick

2. FIRST LOOK: COOPER FLAGG’S RISE TO NO. 1 OVERALL

Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images

The Mavs’ first Summer League game is just over two weeks away. But their No. 1 pick has already gotten a taste of NBA action.

Before he took the court at Cameron Indoor, a 17-year-old Cooper Flagg suited up for USA Basketball’s Select Team during a closed-door scrimmage last July against Team USA’s Olympic roster.

Of the 15 players invited to push the game’s biggest stars, Flagg was the only one without NBA experience – and by far the youngest.

Among a team full of rising talent like Amen Thompson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jalen Suggs, the kid barely old enough to drive didn’t just fit in – he stood out.

“He’s a special young man,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, who led the Select Team during the scrimmage.
“His talent level, his basketball IQ, his level of toughness – not afraid of those moments. Protect the rim, make the right play, make the right read. He had all that.”

Kai Tsehay/NBAE via Getty Images

A highly touted prospect since he was a high-flying, 6-foot-6 eighth-grader, Flagg hasn’t let the hype get to his head – instead, he’s looked ahead, chasing tough competition, The Athletic writes.

Maine Roots: As a freshman at Nokomis Regional High, he was named Maine Gatorade Player of the Year while leading his team to a state championship
Prep Star: He then transferred to Florida’s Montverde Academy, a prep powerhouse, where he won National Gatorade Player of the Year after leading the school to a perfect 33-0 season
Fast-Tracked: Flagg then reclassified to join Duke a year early. Despite moving up a grade, he remained the No. 1 recruit – and didn’t just meet expectations, he exceeded them
Duke Dominance: In his lone college season, Flagg led the Blue Devils in points, assists, rebounds, steals & blocks, earning National Player of the Year honors while guiding them to the Final Four

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

And last summer, sparring against USA’s best, Flagg faced perhaps his biggest challenge yet, going toe-to-toe with a big who walked a similar path to stardom – Anthony Davis.

Talents Collide: Like Flagg, AD also won National Player of the Year as a freshman (at Kentucky in 2012) before going first overall in that year’s Draft
Twelve years later, Davis found himself guarding the 17-year-old phenom, who went up for a pull-up jumper over the 10-time All-Star – only to have his shot sent to the floor
But Flagg recovered, hauled in the loose ball, kicked it back out and slipped by Davis for a backdoor dunk

Now, the two generational talents will join forces in Dallas – where another former No. 1 pick and participant in that USA scrimmage sees the perfect fit for Flagg.

“He’s a guy that can do so many things on the floor,” said LeBron James of Flagg on his Mind The Game podcast. “He can play with or without the ball … Super athletic. Quick second jump…
“And he gets to join a team that’s established with Hall of Fame guys – Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving … They can give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be.”

3. ALL-ACCESS: AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT IN BROOKLYN

Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

“Sometimes it’s okay to be delusional about your dreams – and they end up happening.”

That was Khaman Maluach’s message Thursday afternoon for young aspiring African hoopers. Hours later, the 7-footer from South Sudan – who didn’t pick up a basketball until age 13 – was selected 10th overall.

Fighting back tears after hearing his name called, Maluach reflected on his “delusional dream” that was now a reality.

“Believing in myself that I’m gonna make it to the NBA one day,” he said. “And now, I’m here at the NBA Draft – just got drafted.”

From emotional interviews to backstage banter, Draft Night in Brooklyn brought out every feeling imaginable, starting with some butterflies from the No. 1 pick.

Suiting Up: After getting his fit right, Cooper Flagg hit the red carpet, where he chopped it up with Draft Correspondent and 76ers guard Jared McCain – a fellow Blue Devil
“It’s a lot of nerves,” Flagg told McCain. “There’s a lot of emotionsgoing into everything.”
The Moment: Join Flagg’s Draft table for his live reaction as Adam Silver officially makes him a Maverick

Evan Yu/NBAE via Getty Images

The energy was electric long before names were called, as the entire 2025 Draft Class rolled up to Barclays Center together – each bringing their own story into an unforgettable night.

Future Frame: The newest faces of the NBA hit the stage together for an annual classic – the Draft Class photo
Drip Check: Dylan Harper was left speechless after seeing Rutgers teammate Ace Bailey’s suit up close
Texas Two Step: Harper was pumped to see Flagg after they went 1-2: “We’re in the same state now!”
OKC Emotion: One state North, OKC selected Georgetown’s Thomas Sorber, who shared a heartfelt embrace with his mother as the moment sank in
Family Reminders: Meanwhile, Walter Clayton Jr. – who led Florida to the 2025 national title – shared Draft Night with his daughter before going to the Jazz at No. 18

A once-in-a-lifetime night ended in two more touching scenes.

First, Danny Wolf (28) and his family were overcome with emotionafter he was selected by the Nets – in his new home arena
Then, the Hornets landed Liam McNeeley (29), who was in tears after becoming the fourth Montverde Academy player drafted, alongside high school teammates Derik Queen, Asa Newell & Flagg

4. WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN TONIGHT’S SECOND ROUND

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

On Wednesday, 30 hoop dreams came true in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Tonight, 29 more players will take the next step in their basketball journey in the second round (8 ET, ESPN).

As past years have taught us, there are gems to be found in the second round of the draft.

We’ve seen MVPs like 3-time winner Nikola Jokić, ROYs like 2017 winner Malcolm Brogdon and Hall of Famers like Willis Reed, Dennis Rodman and Manu Ginobili that all started their NBA careers as second-round picks.

Here are seven notable players still on the board entering tonight:

Johni Broome (C, Auburn): A crafty and effective post scorer and rebounder who plays mostly below the rim
Rasheer Fleming (F, Saint Joseph’s): A 3-and-D big man that can play the 4 or a small-ball 5
Kam Jones (G, Marquette): A playmaking combo guard with a well-rounded game
Ryan Kalkbrenner (C, Creighton): A 7-foot-1 big that makes his presence felt on both ends
Tyrese Proctor (G, Duke): A combo guard that can play both on and off the ball and shoot the 3
Maxime Raynaud (C, Stanford): A stretch five that can shoot the 3 and defend the rim
Adou Thiero (F, Arkansas): A strong perimeter defender with a developing offensive game
Jamir Watkins (F, Florida State): A dynamic on-ball defender that can guard multiple positions