2025 NBA Draft prospects: First memories of falling in love with the NBA
From watching hall of famers to playing video games, 2025 NBA draft prospects recall how they fell in love with the NBA with FTW’s Bryan Kalbrosky
The Pacers made a trade Wednesday night to add a second round pick, giving Indiana the No. 38 and 54 picks in Thursday night’s Round 2.
Thirty picks down, 29 to go.
The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft got off without a hitch.
Unsurprisingly, Cooper Flagg went No. 1 overall to the Dallas Mavericks, while Duke teammates Kon Knueppel (No. 4) and Khaman Maluach (No. 10) each went inside the top 10.
It wasn’t until later in the first round when the unexpected selections picked up. As certain names flew off the board, fans were left with questions like, “How is that player still available?”
The Pacers made a trade Wednesday night to add a second round pick, giving Indiana the No. 38 and 54 picks in Thursday night’s Round 2.
Although the NBA draft is only two rounds, that second round can often be where championship teams are built. With the recent success of second-round picks like Nikola Jokic, Draymond Green, and Jalen Brunson, there’s plenty of reason to remain invested in these selections if you’re an NBA fan.
2025 NBA Draft: Best available players in Round 2GuardsChaz Lanier, TennesseeSenior, guard, 6-4, 199 pounds, 23 years old2024-25 stats: 18.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.9 spg, 43.1% FG, 39.5% 3PT, 75.8% FTAdou Thiero, ArkansasJunior, guard, 6-8, 220 pounds, 21 years old2024-25 stats: 15.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.6 spg, 54.5% FG, 25.6% 3PT, 68.6% FTForwardsRasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’sJunior, forward, 6-8¼, 232 pounds, 20 years old2024-25 stats: 14.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.4 spg, 1.3 apg, 53.1% FG, 39% 3PT, 74.3% FTNoah Penda, Le Mans Sarthe (France)Forward, 6-6, 232 pounds, 20 years old2024-25 stats: 10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.4 bpg, 44.0% FG, 30.4% 3PT, 69.3% FTCentersMaxime Raynaud, StanfordSenior, center, 7-0¼, 237 pounds, 22 years old2024-25 stats: 20.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.4 bpg, 46.7% FG, 34.7% 3PT, 77% FTRyan Kalkbrenner, CreightonSenior, center, 7-1, 270 pounds, 23 years old2024-25 stats: 19.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.7 bpg, 0.5 spg, 65.3% FG, 34.4% 3PT, 68.1% FT
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