2025 NBA Draft Grades 1-30

by Steven Rasco

This year's draft brought much entertainment with surprises from big swings like Hansen Yang at No. 16 or Egor Demin at No. 8. Of course you have the drama that is stirred up prior to the draft with Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr. trying to decide their own futures both ending up in Utah who they did not work out with.

Welcome to my own in-depth analysis of every first-round pick of this year's NBA Draft. Read along to find out what grade your favorite team received.

1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, Duke Blue Devils

Grade: A+

With a dominant performance at Duke it was never in doubt that Cooper Flagg would be the No.1 Pick after his decision to re-classify to class the of 2025. After what was a disastrous season that saw the Mavericks seemingly crumble after trading away their generational talent in Luka Dončić and their star in Kyrie Irving suffering an ACL tear Dallas somehow get away with what is by far the best prospect of the draft. Flagg fits into any team or system in the league right now, but with his huge defensive upside he couldn't be any better for the defensive identity Dallas is trying to build right now. The question with Flagg doesn't lie on the defensive end. It lies on whether he can develop his shooting to be an elite offensive weapon. His improvement on offense will be difference-maker between him being a superstar or a solid starter/role player.

2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Grade: A-

Had Flagg never reclassified, Harper would without a doubt be the No. 1 pick, so it's no surprise to see him at the No. 2 spot. One of the more impressive aspects comes in his size, standing at 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, the combo guard out of Rutgers clearly already holds the physical tools to play in the NBA. The best part is Harper seemingly understands this advantage he holds against other guards, as he constantly used it to dominate his position on both sides of the floor in college. Even with all this, I couldn't bring myself to give the Spurs anything higher than an A-, this being due to the amazing guard depth that already have after trading for a star in De'Aaron Fox at the deadline. Now one might say it's simple, let the rookie learn from the others off the bench, but leaving that talent on the bench may stunt his growth, but then you can't just bench an All-Star like Fox, but then can you bench a Rookie of the Year winner like Stephon Castle? The upside is there for Harper but the fit with two other players that have the same archetype is questionable.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor

Grade: A

The shooting guard out of Baylor possesses a special blend of athleticism, skill, and defensive intensity. Edgecombe brings a strong presence around the rim and off-ball, constantly making himself felt on the defensive end. His ability to play both sides along with his elite athleticism can bring him to be an elite two-way player. At his very best he could be comparable to a Dwyane Wade as he continues to develop his ball-handling and finishing around the rim. The question with the guard comes down to if he can create his own shot while being in the flow of the offense. The grade does not come to be an A+ as he most likely must come off the bench for a deep 76ers squad. However, Philadelphia did right by choosing the best talent available. Edgecombe can be a high-quality player off the bench, bringing a jolt of energy when he comes onto the court. Unlike the Spurs, the 76ers wouldn't be hurt by their rookie's growth coming from the bench.

4. Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel, Duke

   
   

Grade: C+

The Blue Devils' freshman displayed both how smart he is when it comes to the game and how elite his shooting is from beyond the arc. Coming in as one of the best shooters of the draft it's no surprise to see an NBA-ready player like Knueppel come in as a top-five pick. However one must question, how does he complement the Stars of Charlotte? Knueppel is not an elite athlete and is by no means a major threat on defense, even while being such a strong player. Can this kind of player fit in a system built around the likes of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller?

5. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, Rutgers

Grade: A+

Ace Bailey stirred up quite the drama before draft night, declining workouts with teams he seemingly didn't want to draft him. Even though they were one of those teams, the Jazz simply didn't care. They wouldn't let themselves get bullied by a 19-year-old, they simply chose the best talent on the board as they have the right to do. Showing flashes of being an elite two-way player as a forward in college, Bailey has all the tools to be a presence on both sides of the floor in the NBA. He needs to work on efficiency if he wants to catch up with the offense of the league, as if not his style of play on the offensive end can get old really fast.

6. Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson, Texas

Grade: A

After expecting Bailey to fall to them at No. 6, the Wizards end up going for plan B in Tre Johnson, what a secondary option that is for Washington getting an efficient young scorer out of college with potential to be a combo guard in the NBA. Coming off a season where he fired at a 40.8% clip off catch-and-shoot threes, there's no doubt Johnson is one of if not the best shooter in this draft. He has tools on the offensive end but still needs to grow into being as capable of a point guard as he is as a shooting guard. He must also show that he is capable of being just an offensive player, as the archetype of one-way players is a dying trend in the NBA.

7. New Orleans: Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

Grade: B+

With the No. 7 overall pick the Pelicans chose to buy into Jeremiah Fears, The guard out of Oklahoma came out of college and into the draft as the best ball handler in his class, showing promise to be the Pelicans primary shot-creator for the future. However, Fears brings great risk as being one of the youngest players in college basketball, he had so much that he clearly has yet to develop. This includes being a capable 3-point shooter and his decision-making between when to pass or shoot. Being a young Guard these issues can come to be no problem or the roadblock that leads to him being a bust.

8. Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin, BYU

Grade: D+

This feels like a reach of a pick for Brooklyn, picking Demin in the top-10 when the guard was widely projected to go mid to late first round. It comes to be even more confusing when you realize the Nets had five yes five first round picks in the first round, meaning they could have drafted him later if they wanted to. On top of the fact that four of their picks were guards this pick just gets more and more confusing. Demin is a high-risk, high-reward prospect coming in at 6-foot-10 he shows flashes of being an elite playmaker especially for his size, giving the Nets a potential supersized ball handler of the future. That being said Demin has big red flags when it comes to his shooting, scoring efficiency, and defense. With an organization like the Nets he will have to compete against the abundance of guards they now have, hopefully that promotes growth.

9. Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina

Grade: B+

Murray-Boyles is a raw prospect out of South Carolina with his huge wingspan of 7-foot, defensive versatility, and his ability to be a bully in the post he is sure to make his presence felt in the league. However, being an undersized big, Boyles comes with big questions especially on the offensive end with his shot being damn near non-existent. This can prove to hinder the Raptors' offense, contributing little to no spacing on a team that already has a lack of shooting.

10. Phoenix Suns: Khaman Maluach, Duke Blue Devils

Grade: A+

Using the draft capital from the Kevin Durant trade the Suns wasted no time to cover a big necessity in their lack of depth at the center position. Standing at a staggering 7-foot-2 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, size is definitely not the issue with Maluach. The Big man out of Duke is an exceptional lob threat, moves great for his size, and his great upside as a defensive presence around the rim. This pick paired up with the Suns receiving center Mark Williams through trade gives Phoenix amazing depth at frontcourt something that they have lacked. The future for the Suns has gone from devastating to hopeful with this pick.

11. Memphis Grizzlies: Cedric Coward, Washington State

Grade: A

The Grizzlies trade up five picks to draft Cedric Coward, shooting guard out of Washington State. Coward is a win-now pick, he's 22, his shooting is NBA-ready and is a valuable wing defender, something that will surely translate to the league. The plan is to seemingly pair him up with their rookie sensation Jaylen Wells. The two have similar archetypes and can be the Grizzlies' wing duo of the future after trading away Desmond Bane. With Coward being a player that worked his way up from Division III theres no question of his winning mentality, great pick for a team that's in a rush to get competitive.

12. Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue, France

Grade: A

This is a high upside pick, with Noa Essengue having already played pro in Germany showed how impactful he can be towards winning at such a young age. The 6'10 wing has showcased his raw athleticism in France, constantly driving into the rim and finding ways to get to the line. At 18 years old he has a lot of time to build up a much-needed bigger frame, as standing at a skinny frame and being able to get to the line as much as he does is impressive to say the least. His jumper is promising, his defense shows flashes of being great, and he has already displayed that he can contribute to winning at the professional level. The vision is clear, as the Bulls are teaming up Essengue with their standout rookie last year, Matas Buzelis to establish a promising wing duo that could lead the next era for the organization.

13. New Orleans: Derrick Queen, Maryland

Grade: C

Derrick Queen coming out of Maryland is a formidable presence in the paint, an absolute monster when in that area. He is a bully. He is an absolute rebounding machine, he runs through opponents to score, his vision and ball handling as a big man of his size makes him ready to transition for the NBA. The idea of Queen sounds nice, however the fit can be considered questionable. He comes with big concerns involving conditioning and whether he can develop a jump shot, eerily familiar to his new teammate Zion Williamson. This just doesn't sound like a winning culture or system being built in New Orleans, and considering they gave up their own 2026 unprotected first-round pick next year and their No. 23 pick in this draft to get Queen this high, just doesn't feel like the risk is worth it.

14. San Antonio Spurs: Carter Bryant, Arizona

Grade: A+

In a draft where they get the second best prospect in the draft, the Spurs also manage to snag a player with one of the best archetypes for any team in a league wanting to compete for a championship. The 3-and-d mold of a player is not common in this draft, but if there's anyone that does it best, especially at his size, it's Carter Bryant. The Spurs add another wing to their already deep frontcourt depth with Wembanyama and Sochan. There is not much that can go wrong with this pick, his defensive tenacity is without a doubt going to translate especially giving the organization he is joining. The biggest key is Bryant being able to space the floor on offense to give the Spurs that extra lift of spacing. Being one of the best shooters in college basketball I'm sure he'll be fine when it comes to shooting the ball especially with how young he is, as he still has much to grow into.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber, Georgetown

Grade: B

If you want to see what an NBA comparison for Sorber may be look no further than his new teammate Isaiah Hartenstein. Great defender as a big man and even better of a passer, an ability rare for a player of his size. Now it's no question the Thunder aren't looking to gain a new player in the rotation, so that being said Sorber probably won't get much playing time. However, once Oklahoma starts feeling the punishment of having such an expensive squad he can eventually replace that of a Hartenstein, a perfect switch as the player could be ready to play with an even bigger frame in one to two years.

16. Portland Trail Blazers: Hansen Yang, China

Grade: F

A grade so harsh one might assume I don't think the player has quality. That isn't the issue. There's no question Yang possesses great talent for a big man, one anonymous scout on draft night even saying the Trail Blazers picked up the Chinese Jokić. However, even with his size and great vision, he was viewed to go in the second round by just about every scout. There was no reason to use a mid-first round pick on a player that would have been there in the second round. If the Blazers wanted him so badly they should have traded into the second round to get him instead of taking such a dramatic swing. Who knows maybe Yang can pan out to meet the Jokic comparison, but I'll still be here saying they should have just opted to get him later on in the draft.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Joan Beringer, France

Grade: A

The Timberwolves draft a potential heir to the throne of Rudy Gobert defensively. To expect Beringer to be at the same level of Gobert is unrealistic, but to have Beringer learn under the four-time Defensive Player of the Year winner will be exceptional for his growth as a rim protector. As Gobert continues to get older the likelier it becomes that Minnesota will need a replacement. This is why they picked Beringer, to fill that void and become the new heir to the defensive throne.

18. Utah Jazz: Walter Clayton Jr., Florida Gators

Grade: A

The Jazz choose to opt in on yet another player that chose not to work out with them once again simply going for the talent/need over anything else. With a cleared out backcourt theres much room for the point guard out of Florida to show out with his outstanding ability to shoot the cover off the ball. Coming off as one of the premier shooters in college basketball, it would be no surprise to see him continue this shooting in the NBA. He brings some much-needed spacing to pair up with Ace Bailey, young guards like Isaiah Collier and Keyonte George would also benefit from what Clayton brings to the table. He has the body type and strength to become a capable defender in the league, giving him a chance to be a great two-way player for Utah.

19. Brooklyn Nets: Nolan Traore, France

Grade: B

Strange, buying into a player that is eerily similar to their pick earlier in the draft in Egor Demin. Everything down to the need to work on shooting and scoring efficiency to be able to thrive in the league. They can work the floor on the defensive end together, but the spacing will be a major challenge in that aspect. Traore offers strong flashes of being a playmaker with positional size and a strong finisher around the rim. He is by far the fastest player in this draft making his drives to the rim ever the more menacing. The best way to describe him is as a speedy playmaker with great takes to the rim, but with inefficient shooting.

20. Miami Heat: Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois

Grade: A+

A shocking fall to say the least for what many had as the second-best playmaking prospect coming into the draft. Miami gets an absolute steal as they add a Lithuanian guard with great size for his position. Jakucionis can be considered a flashy passer, he commands the floor every time he brings the ball down the court, always knowing where his teammates are and how to set them up. Along with his great processing instincts he also shows flashes of being a very capable shooter and a great ball handler in the NBA. He displayed growing pains in college, sometimes having dumb turnovers and his shot falling off after picking up an injury. These can be considered common mistakes especially being an 18-year-old during the collegiate season and being placed with the burden of taking over a whole offense by himself. After falling out of the top-10 in the draft he is coming into this season for Miami with a major chip on his shoulder.

21. Washington Wizards: Will Riley, Illinois

Grade: C

This pick is very much an investment into a long-term project. Some scouts aren't too sure what to make of Riley due to the fact that it feels like there's so many aspects to his game that need clarification. With good size at 6'8 he needs to build up muscle mass to emphasize his best quality in his dynamic driving ability. He shot a low 32% from three in college but looking at his game one could see how the Wizards may think his jump shot might eventually click. He shows flashes of being capable as a playmaker but not enough to make it jump out. Overall Riley needs to build up his frame to improve upon his lackluster defense and drives to the rim. A tough project indeed, but the Wizards are definitely a franchise that can buy into something like this.

22. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell, North Carolina

Grade: C-

An athlete that can jump out of the gym, a switch defender with a high motor, and a dog around the rim. These are great attributes to have as a rookie coming into the NBA, and if he can develop his jumper accordingly he can be a majorly successful 3-and-D role player at the very least for the Nets. That being said Powell's at times slow approach to the game offensively caps his own athletic ability, not allowing himself to get into the flow of an offense. With a big worry being his shot and his ball handling he is yet another prospect that the Nets believe they can develop the shooting and on-ball abilities. This pick is viewed as yet another reach for the Nets and for a prospect that a lot of scouts do not view as NBA ready.

23. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell, Georgia

Grade: A+

Given that the Hawks traded down from the 13th pick to get a high upside big man in Asa Newell along with an unprotected pick from the Pelicans in next year's draft should make this grade a no-brainer. Newell shows promise of being a great defender against that of the pick-and-roll. Being profiled as a floor spacer most could check the stats to see that he did not shoot the ball particularly well in college. However, with a promising jumper at a young age he can develop into a prolific stretch big. Newell has quality in playmaking, rim protection, and rebounding, seemingly having all the tools to develop into a stud with the Hawks.

24. Sacramento Kings: Nique Clifford, Colorado State

Grade: B

Great value for this pick as the Kings choose to opt in on a college super senior in Nique Clifford. He proved to be a tough wing with the athletic ability and motor to grab rebounds and defend aggressively out on the perimeter. His ticket into the draft was the strides he made in shooting the ball, making a leap into being a respectable shooter. Being a 23-year-old there isn't much room for growth, meaning he is meant for a win-now team not a team in purgatory like the Kings. A questionable pick for a team that would be lucky to make the play-in tournament in a ultra-competitive Western Conference.

25. Orlando Magic: Jase Richardson, Michigan State

Grade: A

After a season in which the Magic clearly lacked shooting, they pick up Desmond Bane and now a great shooter in Christopher Columbus Alumnus Jase Richardson. Coming out of Michigan State he showed great promise of being a primary ball handler, having a feel for the game, and hounding on defense despite his size. Speaking of his size, despite being an exceptional shooter, possibly one of the best of the class Richardson's draft stock fell out of being a potential lottery pick due to coming in shorter than expected at the draft combine standing at just under 6-foot-1. Great value for the Magic to get a more than capable young shooter with playmaking ability this late in the first-round.

26. Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf, Israel

Grade: C

The Nets fourth pick of the first-round and they go for... another point guard? This is yet another prospect in which Brooklyn select someone that shows great promise as a flashy playmaker and great at finishing around the rim but need work on shooting. At this point the organization is betting heavily on their ability to develop shooting. Saraf can be considered a combo guard at the very least giving space for the other guards selected to grow more as playmakers while Saraf grows into more of a scoring role.

27. Brooklyn Nets: Danny Wolf, Michigan

Grade: B+

I almost wanted to finally give the Nets an A on this pick, but when dissected, one can see that Brooklyn just drafted yet another point guard in Wolf. Though he is listed as a center, in college the big man essentially played point guard. He possesses very impressive ability to read the floor and playmaking at 6-foot-11. Being the primary ball handler for most of the collegiate season, he showed great ability to generate an offense and as well as showed a great touch around the rim. He is the fifth pick for the Nets as well as the fifth player they pick that there are concerns around their shooting (more work for the shooting coaches). Brooklyn seems to be ready to embrace a system made up of players that know how to set each other up.

28. Boston Celtics: Hugo González, Spain

Grade: C-

González is a big wing with good size, a good motor, and high defensive upside. That's it. As of now, he shows promise to be more of a defender that can move the ball around on offense. His shooting doesn't show much promise either as he shot 29% from three last year. His offense won't be enough as it is now to keep him in the league unless he becomes one of the most elite defenders of the league. His best offense comes in transition with his size and frame being able to power through defenders on the fast-break. His hustle and motor kept me from giving this a D grade as it may help his growth within the Celtics' system.

29. Charlotte Hornets: Liam McNeely, UConn

Grade: A

The Hornets pick up another sharpshooter in Liam McNeely out of UConn. McNeely has been propped up as one of the most competitive players of the draft, constantly elevating his game when times are tough. He is a 6-foot-8 wing that can fit into any offense as he is a great in-flow passer, a connector in a way. This along with his elite shooting ability will bring a new young life into the Hornets. Great value here.

30. Los Angeles Clippers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Penn State

Grade: B+

Clippers take a swing at a junior out of Penn State in Niederhauser, a big man with impressive ability to finish at the rim as a lob-threat as well as protect the rim as a formidable shot blocker. He is a good fit for being a backup big for any team in the NBA especially useful for coming off the bench for someone like Ivica Zubac. As a rim runner Niederhauser constantly demands attention with his great size and legit athleticism.