NBA news: Draft night delivers big moments - Cooper Flagg headlines new era
The NBA draft is always one of the most anticipated nights on the basketball calendar, and this year’s edition lived up to the hype.
With flashing cameras, anxious families, and roaring fan reactions, the 2025 draft delivered storylines that will shape the league for years to come.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Noah Ngcobo reflects on the successful NBA draft night.
A night of dreams for Flagg
Headlining the event was 18-year-old Cooper Flagg, who was taken first overall by the Dallas Mavericks after a rollercoaster season and a surprising draft lottery win.
After just one season at Duke, the consensus best NCAA Division I college basketball player charges into the NBA as the league’s most promising prospect.
Flagg lands in Dallas after remarkable college run
The Mavericks had only a 1.8 percent chance of securing the top pick, but when the ping pong balls bounced in their favour back in May, speculation quickly turned to a single name: Cooper Flagg.
On Wednesday, June 25, that prediction became reality.
The 6-foot-8 guard-forward hybrid was nothing short of dominant in his freshman season at Duke.
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, leading Duke to the NCAA Final Four.
His standout year earned him the prestigious Wooden Award and the title of ACC Rookie of the Year.
“I’m feeling amazing. It’s a dream come true,” Flagg said after his name was called, standing beside his family.
“I wouldn’t want to share this moment with anyone else.”
Flagg is now the second player in Mavericks history to be selected with the number one pick, following Mark Aguirre in 1981.
At just 18 years and 186 days old, Flagg also becomes the second-youngest top pick in NBA history, behind LeBron James.
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Harper joins Spurs with second pick
The San Antonio Spurs used the second selection to draft Rutgers point guard Dylan Harper, the 19-year-old son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper.
Harper now joins a promising Spurs core alongside Victor Wembanyama, aiming to help San Antonio back to contender status.
“I’m feeling everything, all the emotions mixed in one bucket,” Harper said.
“They’ve got a great young core over there, and I’m ready to make an impact.”
Edgecombe gives 76ers a spark
With the third pick, the Philadelphia 76ers selected VJ Edgecombe, a dynamic guard out of Baylor.
Edgecombe, originally from the Bahamas, averaged 15 points and 5.6 rebounds in his college season and was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
His selection drew loud cheers from the Philadelphia fans in attendance at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Hornets and Jazz round out the top five
The Charlotte Hornets added another Duke product by selecting Kon Knueppel at number four, marking two Blue Devils taken in the top four.
Meanwhile, Utah scooped up Ace Bailey with the fifth pick.
Bailey had been a candidate for the third slot but had declined to work out for Philadelphia, ultimately landing with the Jazz.
A new chapter begins
This draft class is already brimming with storylines.
From the youthful rise of Flagg to the legacy of Harper and the international flair of Edgecombe, the 2025 NBA draft reminded fans why it is one of the league’s most magical nights.
With fresh talent entering the league and franchises reloading for the future — the countdown to tipoff has never felt more exciting.
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