Every first-round pick from the 2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg taken pick one by Dallas Mavericks

Two of the top-10 picks in the NBA Draft were left seething after being drafted to clubs they were desperate to avoid. Recap the drama and watch highlights of the top 30 picks here.

Australia’s four NBA hopefuls have to wait for Friday’s second round to learn their futures following a dramatic opening day of the draft that saw Duke’s Cooper Flagg selected as the No.1 pick amid “rigged” claims and players admitting they didn’t want to join their teams.

NBL stars Rocco Zikarsky, Alex Toohey and Lachlan Olbrich are expected to be selected in the second round, alongside Sydney-born guard Tyrese Proctor.

The foursome of Aussies are tipped to be chosen at picks 41, 45, 50 and 34 respectively.

For now, their moment in the sun must wait as the headlines hone in the first-round selections.

SCROLL DOWN TO RECAP EVERY PICK AND WATCH HIGHLIGHTS IN OUR BLOG

ANALYSIS: We’ve analysed five NBA mock drafts, this is where the Aussies are headed

There's just one hour until 4️⃣ of Australia's best young basketball talents learn if they're NBA dream will come to fruition. 🏀 #NBADraft

ANALYSIS ➡️ https://t.co/Igl5V8Prwmpic.twitter.com/IJoySTslND

— CODE Basketball (@codebballau) June 25, 2025

In a night of high drama at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, Flagg did what was expected and landed at the Dallas Mavericks with the first selection.

But the milestone moment wasn’t without contention.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver was bombarded with a barrage of boos from the Brooklyn crowd when he stepped foot on the draft stage to open the event. Fans in the crowd yelled: “Dallas was rigged”, as Silver walked out to announce Flagg as the No.1 pick in the draft.

A lot of the bitterness aimed at Dallas follows the club’s controversial decision to trade generational star Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers in return for Anthony Davis.

Mavs GM Nico Harrison was widely hammered for doing the unthinkable and trading Doncic.

Despite this, Dallas secured the No.1 pick despite having just a 1.8% chance to win the lottery, the fourth-lowest odds by a team to win the No. 1 pick since the lottery began in 1985.

This prompted fans to claim the lottery is rigged and broken.

The drama ramped up again just minutes later when Tennessee-born small forward Ace Bailey was taken as the No.5 pick to the Utah Jazz, despite reports suggesting he didn’t want to join the Jazz.

He reportedly turned down workout invitations with Utah and is said to prefer a team where he can have a prominent role and ample shot opportunities.

Washington, New Orleans or Brooklyn was where Bailey wanted to go, but the Jazz selected him knowing this and were praised for sticking to its guns despite Bailey not working out with the club.

Austin Ainge, President of Basketball Operations for the Utah Jazz told ESPN the Jazz “really like Ace Bailey as a player and a fit in our program.”

Just how much it means 🥹🥹

What a moment for Khaman Maluach.

Top 10 at the #NBADraftpic.twitter.com/gTTtAJ6gFB

— Jessica Robinson (@jessrobinson_96) June 26, 2025

There were no Australians selected in the first round, but Duke big man Khaman Maluach has close connections Down Under.

Maluach’s sisters live in Melbourne, while the South Sudanese product built a potent pick-and-roll combination with Aussie guard Tyrese Proctor during US College stint with the Blue Devils.

The seven-foot-two centre was selected as the 10th pick by Houston before having his draft rights traded to the Phoenix Suns.

The 18-year old’s selection sparked tears of joy from his family sitting alongside him at the draft.

“I’m here representing the whole continent of Africa, they’re on my back,” Maluach said.

“I want to give hope and inspire young kids and the next generation of African basketball.

“I want to thank them so much for raising me the way they raised me to be a good young man, raising me the right way and showing me the good values of life.”

The biggest surprise of the first-round came via Chinese centre Yang Hansen, who was selected at 16 to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The big man – who stands at a whopping 7 foot 2 – didn’t expect to be selected in the first round.

Yet Hansen still decided to turn up to the Barclays Centre to sit with the fans in the stands in his white suit hoping to hear his name called out.

The Chinese star’s NBA dream is now a reality and four Australians are hoping to join him in the world’s best basketball league on Friday.