2025 NBA Mock Draft

It’s late spring in 2025, and the buzz is real. Not the kind you get from pre-game warmups or summer league sizzle — this is the deep, marrow-level murmur of change. A new class is rising. They're not just players on a board or names in a headline. They're stories in motion, waiting to be written in the ink of hardwood and sweat.

1. Ace Bailey – The Crowned Potential

In the mock drafts, Ace Bailey’s name glows at the top like the North Star. The 6'9" forward has the rare blend of length, agility, and shot-making that NBA scouts lose sleep over. But his rise didn’t come without shadow. After flipping his college commitment, enduring criticism, and tuning out the noise, he walked into the 2024-25 NCAA season like a man on a mission. His game? Smooth as a jazz sax on a Harlem night, but with the bite of a Bronx brawl. A two-way dynamo. Franchise-changing upside.

2. Cooper Flagg – The Folk Hero from Maine

If Bailey is the crown prince, Cooper Flagg is the people’s champion. The kind of talent that pulls kids off couches and into driveways with basketballs and dreams. Hailing from a small town in Maine, Flagg’s rise has been documented like folklore — a YouTube legend turned Duke sensation. He’s gritty, instinctive, and unnervingly smart on the court. His feel for the game can’t be taught. Scouts compare him to Larry Bird with a modern twist. NBA front offices? They see a leader. A face-of-the-franchise type.

3. Dylan Harper – The Quiet Storm

Don’t let his cool demeanor fool you — Dylan Harper is as fierce as they come. A lefty guard with a wide frame and a tighter handle than most veterans, Harper’s stock has climbed steadily. He’s not loud with his game, but he’s loud with his impact. Coming out of Rutgers — a rare pipeline — he’s defied the glittery path to shine in his own way. In the league, he’ll be the kind of guard who plays both ends, sets the tone, and walks into big moments like he owns them.

4. VJ Edgecombe – The Bahamian Blur

There’s something poetic about watching VJ Edgecombe play. Born in the Bahamas and sharpened in the U.S., he’s a slashing wing with a high motor and higher ceiling. His story isn’t just about basketball — it’s about migration, adaptation, and chasing a dream through uncertainty. Edgecombe brings a spark that coaches love: he’s fearless in transition, relentless on defense, and already has NBA spacing instincts. He might not go top two, but he could end up the best pro of the bunch.

5. Izan Almansa – The European Enigma

Coming out of Spain and the G League Ignite system, Izan Almansa is the international flavor in the top 10. A versatile big with a high IQ and professional polish, he’s been on NBA radars for years. His journey reflects the globalization of basketball — a reminder that the league’s next great players don’t always come from March Madness. Almansa plays with a methodical pace and touch, but don’t mistake that for softness. He’s durable, smart, and built for the grind.

A Draft of Shifting Culture

This 2025 class doesn’t just bring talent — it brings narrative. There’s the reemergence of the college star, the continued rise of international talent, and the ripple effects of NIL (name, image, likeness) in how players manage their pre-NBA journeys. These young men aren’t just athletes. They’re entrepreneurs, influencers, and trailblazers navigating a new era of basketball economics.

The NBA doesn’t just draft for skill anymore. It drafts for adaptability, character, vision. And this class? It’s rich with it.

So as the lottery balls drop and the draft boards get reshuffled again and again, remember: these names aren’t just stats. They’re sons, students, strivers — and soon, stars.