NBA Draft 2025: Khaman Maluach leaves everyone a blubbering mess, Cooper Flagg named No. 1 pick

The No. 1 pick has been named in the NBA Draft as one teenager’s emotional reaction to being drafted stole the show

5 min read

June 26, 2025 - 4:46PM

NBA

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The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft has come and gone and as expected, the Dallas Mavericks took Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick after landing the top pick in a draft lottery stunner.

Flagg, a 206cm forward from Duke University, is expected to play major minutes for the Mavericks, who traded Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers a year after Doncic took them to the NBA Finals.

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.

Flagg will play alongside the likes of Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving.

However, the best moment of the Draft was arguably the emotional reaction by Khaman Maluach and his family to him being taken at Pick 10 by the Suns, which left everyone in the room and at home reaching for the tissues.

As the Duke prospect was taken with the 10th pick, he and his loved ones immediately burst into tears, melting hearts in the process.

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

You can watch the tear jerking reaction in the player above.

Khaman Maluach was overcome with emotion after being drafted. Image: Getty/Kayo

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

His family were in tears at their table, as Maluach said: “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.”

Cooper Flagg with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

The Dallas Mavericks are more than ready for Cooper Flagg. Photo: Fox Sports.

Largely unknown Chinese talent taken early

The biggest surprise of the first round came at pick 16th, with the Portland Trail Blazers selecting Chinese 7-foot centre Yang Hansen.

Yang, who worked out for the Blazers, was on almost everyone’s draft board and was expected to go early in the second round.

Safe to say it is a rather bizarre choice and confusing from the Blazers who also have centre Donovan Clingan who they picked up in last year’s draft, plus Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams and Aussie big Duop Reath.

Yang Hansen poses with Adam Silver after being selected 16th. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

NBA world ‘flabbergasted’ by risky draft play

The New Orleans traded the 23rd pick and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to Atlanta in exchange for Maryland freshman big Derik Queen.

The Pels have reportedly a big wrap on Queen, but many feel it was an unnecessary risk.

The 2026 pick traded will be the better of either the Pelicans or Bucks.

Given New Orleans isn’t expected to be a finals threat next year in the West and the Bucks franchise is clouded in uncertainty, it could be an incredibly lucrative pick in next year’s draft.

It led to The Athletic’s John Hollinger calling the move a “horrific risk and asset management by New Orleans”.

“I am flabbergasted,” he added.

While NBA reporter Sam Quinn wrote on X: “The unprotected Pelicans pick, in this Western Conference, given their injury issues and the general cursed vibes of that organisation, has a chance to be in the top five next year.

“AND you get the upside of a Bucks collapse. This is an ENORMOUS win for Atlanta.”

The Pelicans have taken a huge gamble on Derik Queen (R) (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Mid-draft trade!

The Charlotte Hornets are trading centre Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 29 pick tonight and a 2029 first-round pick.

Williams was traded to the LA Lakers last year but the traded was reneged after Williams failed his medical.

Draftee slammed for cocky act

Ace Bailey has been taken at No. 5 by the Utah Jazz after he drew criticism for refusing to work out with NBA teams, a cardinal sin in the draft process.

On the Hoop Collective podcast, @DraftExpress said Austin Ainge doesnâ€™t give a damn if Ace Bailey doesnâ€™t want to get drafted by Utah Jazz and he will select him if heâ€™s the best player available.
— Art Cummings (@ArtTakesNote) June 25, 2025

Bailey, a sharpshooter from Rutgers in New Jersey, has been criticised by Philadelphia’s Paul George, who said on his podcast: “If I’m Ace Bailey I can’t get mad if my stock drops.

Ace Bailey has divided opinion. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

“He’s cancelled all workouts. He hasn’t worked out for any team. You’re not in a position to be making those demands. Make it to the league first.

“That’s a kid that’s been paid in college, ‘I got money, I don’t care. I’m gonna tell you where I’m gonna go’.

“It’s almost the ‘me before the team’, before he’s on the team.”

Jeremiah Fears got drafted to the New Orleans Pelicans, and his mum was in tears afterwards as the emotion of his achievement set in.

Jeremiah Fears' mum was in tears after he got drafted. Photo: Fox Sports.

The San Antonio Spurs took Dylan Harper with the second pick, and Philadelphia selected VJ Edgecombe with the third pick.

Harper is the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper.

Highly rated shooter Kon Knueppel, another from Duke, went to the Charlotte Hornets at pick 4.

He spoke with his four brothers, who have surely fielded a starting five in the backyard together.

Kon Knueppel with his brothers, if you couldn't tell. Photo: Fox Sports.

Which Australians are in the NBA Draft?

This year, there are four Australians expected to be picked in the second round of the NBA Draft — Sydney Kings youngster Alex Toohey, 220cm Brisbane Bullets giant Rocco Zikarsky, Duke point guard Tyrese Proctor and Illawarra Hawks NBL champion Lachlan Olbrich.

Proctor is the most highly rated prospect of the Australians after he spent three years playing college basketball at Duke. The 21-year-old is expected to be picked early in the second round.

Another top Aussie prospect is Alex Condon, a 20-year-old centre who achieved NCAA glory with the Florida Gators this year, becoming the sixth Australian to win the US national college basketball championship.

Condon had been slated to be picked late in the first round, possibly to the Brooklyn Nets, but last month he decided to withdraw from this year’s NBA Draft to return to Florida for another year of college hoops.

Australia’s Alex Condon pulled out of the NBA Draft. Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP.

The 211cm Aussie is going back to college. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

It’s becoming increasingly common for players who aren’t expected to be first-round picks to pull out of the NBA Draft to stay in college, especially after name, image and licence (NIL) rules were changed in 2021.

NBA Draft full order of picks

1. Dallas Mavericks – Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke

2. San Antonio Spurs – Dylan Harper, Rutgers University

3. Philadelphia 76ers – VJ Edgecombe, Baylor

4. Charlotte Hornets – Kon Knueppel, Duke

5. Utah Jazz – Ace Bailey, Rutgers University

6. Washington Wizards – Tre Johnson, Texas

7. New Orleans Pelicans – Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

8. Brooklyn Nets – Egor Demin, BYU

9. Toronto Raptors – Collin Murray-Boyles, University of South Carolina

10. Phoenix Suns (via Houston) – Khaman Maluach, Duke

11. Memphis Grizzlies (via Portland) – Cedric Coward, Washington State