Sportsvival takes a quick look at the first round of the NBA Draft.
Top 5 Picks
1- Dallas Mavericks – Cooper Flagg (F, Duke) The Mavs made the obvious choice, selecting the versatile and high-IQ forward to be their new franchise cornerstone after trading Luka Dončić earlier this year.
2- San Antonio Spurs – Dylan Harper (G, Rutgers) Harper joins Victor Wembanyama to form a dynamic inside-out duo. His playmaking and feel for the game make him a perfect fit.
3- Philadelphia 76ers – VJ Edgecombe (G, Baylor) A two-way guard with elite athleticism and defensive upside. Philly fans gave this pick a warm welcome.
4- Charlotte Hornets – Kon Knueppel (F, Duke) A skilled, high-IQ wing who can contribute immediately, though questions remain about his defense.
5- Utah Jazz – Ace Bailey (F, Rutgers) Despite skipping workouts and appearing less than thrilled to land in Utah, Bailey’s upside was too tempting to pass up.
Notable Surprises
Yang Hansen (C, China) went No. 16 to Portland, despite being projected as a second-rounder.
Kasparas Jakucionis (G, Illinois) slid to No. 20 and landed with the Miami Heat—a potential steal.
Brooklyn Nets made history by using five first-round picks, including Egor Demin at No. 8 and Danny Wolf at No. 27.
Here is a list of all the players selected in round one
Round 1
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, guard, Rutgers
3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, wing, Baylor
4. Charlotte Hornets: Kon Knueppel, wing, Duke
5. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, forward, Rutgers
6. Washington Wizards: Tre Johnson, guard, Texas
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Jeremiah Fears, guard, Oklahoma
8. Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin, guard, BYU
9. Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, South Carolina
10. Phoenix Suns (from Houston Rockets): Khaman Maluach, big, Duke
11. Memphis Grizzlies (from Portland Trail Blazers): Cedric Coward, wing, Washington State
12. Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue, forward, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
13. New Orleans Pelicans (from Atlanta Hawks): Derik Queen, big, Maryland
14. San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta Hawks): Carter Bryant, forward, Arizona
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Miami Heat): Thomas Sorber, big, Georgetown
16. Portland Trail Blazers (from Memphis Grizzlies): Hansen Yang, big, Qingdao Eagles (China)
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Detroit Pistons): Joan Beringer, big, Cedevita Olímpija (Slovenia)
18. Utah Jazz (from Washington Wizards): Walter Clayton Jr., guard, Florida
19. Brooklyn Nets (from Milwaukee Bucks): Nolan Traoré, guard, Saint Quentin (France)
20. Miami Heat (from Golden State Warriors): Kasparas Jakučionis, guard, Illinois
21. Washington Wizards (from Utah Jazz): Will Riley, forward, Illinois
22. Brooklyn Nets (from Atlanta Hawks): Drake Powell, wing, North Carolina
23. Atlanta Hawks (New Orleans Pelicans): Asa Newell, big, Georgia
24. Sacramento Kings (from Oklahoma City Thunder): Nique Clifford, forward, Colorado State
25. Orlando Magic (from Denver Nuggets): Jase Richardson, guard, Michigan State
26. Brooklyn Nets (from New York Knicks): Ben Saraf, guard, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
27. Brooklyn Nets (from Houston Rockets): Danny Wolf, big, Michigan
28. Boston Celtics: Hugo González, wing, Real Madrid (Spain)
29. Charlotte Hornets (from Phoenix Suns): Liam McNeeley, wing, Connecticut
30. Los Angeles Clippers (from Oklahoma City Thunder): Yanic Konan Niederhauser, center, Penn State