The latest NBA champions have been crowned with the Oklahoma City Thunder going all the way in an epic seven-game series.
Now, attention turns to the draft with four Australians expected to get picked while Duke phenom Cooper Flagg is expected to have his name called at first overall.
Watch live coverage of the 2025 NBA Draft with ESPN on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Here, foxsports.com.au looks at all the key information you need to know ahead of the draft, along with a few storylines to monitor.
Mon, 23 Jun
Monday June 23rd
WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS SAYING ABOUT NO.1 PICK COOPER FLAGG?
**The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie:**“It’s hard to overstate how positive the intel is on Flagg across the board. He was an elite worker and an immediate leader for Duke from day one. Duke’s coaching staff noted that he completely changed the tenor of even practices from the moment he arrived. He’ll be ready for all the pressure that comes with being a franchise cornerstone immediately in the NBA. Flagg has a tremendous blend of ceiling and floor. His skill level, improvement as a shooter, defence and overall competitiveness make him about as safe a prospect as you can find. However, he also has some very high-end potential outcomes that could result in him turning into a top-five player in the league.”
The Ringer’s Kyle Mann: “Flagg is the big prize of the 2025 draft, but he’s also just a hardwood pup — he turned 18 years old in late December and reclassified two summers ago to enter college a year early. He doesn’t yet have one elite skill, but his ability to do a bunch of things well puts him in rarefied air. He’s a twitchy, long, and bouncy athlete, yet he likely won’t break the scale in any one category. He also doesn’t have a significant weakness. So even if a team already has a high-usage prospect in place, Flagg likely won’t struggle to find his way — in fact, he projects as the type of player who will elevate superstars to another level.”
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor: “Flagg is a do-it-all forward who hustles like a madman, makes his teammates better as a passer, and has dialed in a knockdown jumper. He’s both the best offensive and defensive prospect in this draft class, making him the safest No. 1 pick in ages. It’s his growth as a shot creator that will decide if he reaches his All-Star floor or soars to his Hall of Fame ceiling.”
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 04: Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils prepares to take the floor during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 04, 2024 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 04: Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils prepares to take the floor during Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 04, 2024 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
AND WHAT ABOUT THE DRAMA SURROUNDING THE PROJECTED NO.3 PICK?
Well, Rutgers star Ace Bailey put the league on notice with a power play.
The former Rutgers forward suddenly cancelled his scheduled Saturday workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, who are slated to pick No. 3 overall, according to ESPN’s Draft Express.
Bailey is now the only U.S.-based prospect to not meet with a single team, having declined invitations from multiple franchises in his projected draft range.
He’s expected to be a lottery pick and a possible top-three selection.
Draft Express reports that the Sixers have not ruled out picking Bailey at No. 3, which is his projected draft slot according to most experts, despite this surprising development.
The Wizards (No. 6), Pelicans (No. 7), and Nets (No. 8) are all expected to be aggressive in moving up for Bailey come Wednesday’s draft.
Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz also select No. 5 overall and could be in the mix.
The Hornets pick fourth, but prospects have reportedly refused to work out for the team due to a lack of interest in playing with LaMelo Ball.
A previous report added that Bailey’s camp informed interested teams that they believe he is a top-three player, but they also “seek a clear pathway to stardom.”
The Draft Express report added that Bailey could feel comfortable going to a different team later in the draft or through a trade.
Philadelphia previously worked out Baylor freshman star VJ Edgecombe, the presumed No. 4 prospect in the NBA draft.
Some have put on their tinfoil hats to develop theories involving this bizarre set of decision-making by Bailey and his team, and one circulating idea is that the former Scarlet Knight has already received a promise to be drafted by a team he is comfortable playing for in the future.
ABC’s Jason Dumas reported that Bailey was seeking a promise from the Sixers prior to the meeting.
Bailey’s teammate, Ron Harper, is the consensus No. 2 projected pick.
Bailey attended the NBA Draft Combine and had a strong season for Rutgers, tallying 17.6 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists on 46 percent shooting (34.6 from 3-point range).
— New York Post
WHO ARE THE AUSSIES THAT COULD BE DRAFTED?
There are four of them. Florida’s Alex Condon was expected to be the highest Australian drafted, potentially in the first round, but withdrew to return to college for another year.
However, Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings), Tyrese Proctor (Duke), Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane Bullets) and Lachlan Olbrich (Illawarra Hawks) have all entered the draft and have a strong chance of hearing their names called in the second round.
To give you an idea of where they could go, ESPN’s latest mock draft has Toohey going to Detroit at 37th overall with Golden State taking Zikarsky at 41st and Utah drafting Proctor at 43rd.
Olbrich, meanwhile, was mocked at 50th overall to the Knicks.
Alex Toohey is expected to have his name called. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for NBL)
Alex Toohey is expected to have his name called. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for NBL)Source: Getty Images
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE DRAFT?
The draft takes place on Thursday (Round 1) and Friday (Round 2) in Brooklyn New York.
WHAT TIME IS THE NBA DRAFT?
You can tune in live on ESPN via Kayo Sports for pre-draft coverage from 9am AEST on Thursday, while the first round itself will get underway at 10am and wrap up at 1pm.
The second round also begins at 10am on Friday and is one you won’t want to miss, with four Australians expected to hear their names called.
HOW TO WATCH THE NBA DRAFT IN AUSTRALIA
You can watch live coverage of the 2025 NBA Draft with ESPN on Kayo Sports. If you new to Kayo, you can get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
FIRST ROUND ORDER
1. Dallas Mavericks
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Charlotte Hornets
5. Utah Jazz
6. Washington Wizards
7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Brooklyn Nets
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Houston Rockets (from BKN via PHX)
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC)
14. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (from LAC via MIA)
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via ORL)
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (from NYK, OKC and HOU via DET)
18. Washington Wizards (via MEM)
19. Brooklyn Nets (from NYK, DET, POR and NO via MIL)
20. Miami Heat (via GSW)
21. Utah Jazz (via MIN)
22. Atlanta Hawks (from NO via LAL)
23. New Orleans Pelicans (via IND)
24. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
25. Orlando Magic (via DEN)
26. Brooklyn Nets (via NYK)
27. Brooklyn Nets (via HOU)
28. Boston Celtics
29. Phoenix Suns (from UTAH via CLE)
30. LA Clippers (via OKC)
SECOND ROUND ORDER
31. Minnesota Timberwolves (via UTAH)
32. Boston Celtics (from DET and BKN via WAS)
33. Charlotte Hornets
34. Charlotte Hornets (from SA, PHX and MEM via NO)
35. Philadelphia 76ers
36. Brooklyn Nets
37. Detroit Pistons (from DAL and SA via TOR)
38. San Antonio Spurs
39. Toronto Raptors (from SAC via POR)
40. Washington Wizards (via PHX)
41. Golden State Warriors (from BKN and IND via MIA)
42. Sacramento Kings (from SA via CHI)
43. Utah Jazz (via DAL)
44. Oklahoma City Thunder (via ATL)
45. Chicago Bulls (via SAC)
46. Orlando Magic
47. Milwaukee Bucks (from WAS via DET)
48. Memphis Grizzlies (from WAS and BK via GSW)
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (via MIL)
50. New York Knicks (from OKC and BOS via MEM)
51. LA Clippers (from ATL and HOU via MIN)
52. Phoenix Suns (from CHA and MIN via DEN)
53. Utah Jazz (from LAL via LAC)
54. Indiana Pacers
55. Los Angeles Lakers
56. Memphis Grizzlies (via HOU)
57. Orlando Magic (via BOS)
58. Cleveland Cavaliers
59. Houston Rockets (from ATL via OKC)