NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg pick 1 to Dallas Mavericks, every selection
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 — 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.'
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.
Originally published as Every first-round pick from the 2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg taken pick one by Dallas Mavericks NBA
The No. 1 pick has been named in the NBA Draft as one teenager's emotional reaction to being drafted stole the show Basketball
A nation is behind the Australians dreaming of hearing their names called in this week's NBA draft. We've analysed five mock drafts and spoken with scouts to find a consensus.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘The doctor said I'd won the lottery': Appendicitis may have cost Jack Howarth an Origin debut, but the health scare was a blessing in disguise
Storm centre Jack Howarth probably would have made his State of Origin debut this year had it not been for two separate setbacks, but he says everything happens for a reason after doctors told him he'd 'won the lottery'. Howarth was in the mix for the series opener but was ruled out of contention due to a dislocated shoulder that opened the door for Roosters rookie Robert Toia to make his Maroons debut after just 10 NRL appearances. The powerful Storm centre returned and was part of Queensland's extended squad for game two, with Howarth expected to eventually get his shot given he represented his state in the under 18s and under 19s. The door was open for him to get his crack when Kalyn Ponga went down with a foot injury, but it wasn't meant to be for Howarth, who was struck down with appendicitis just days before the game three squad was announced. Broncos bolter Gehamat Shibasaki was picked at left centre and did a fine job for Billy Slater as the Maroons clinched the series in Sydney, but it could have easily been Howarth celebrating in the sheds with his teammates. 'It's hard to tell. There were a few conversations but there was no definite call (from Slater),' Howarth told the NewsWire. 'I was just happy that I was in the picture to be selected. Everything happens for a reason and maybe it wasn't my time to play. I'm just glad they went out and won, and Shibasaki has been playing great footy and he has an unreal story, so he deserved it. 'As much as it sucked at the time, it worked out that I was able to get my issues fixed, so it wasn't a big loss.' Those issues could have become very serious, with Howarth revealing how quickly things turned for the worse after initially feeling unwell on Monday, June 23, before he had his appendix removed the next day and was out of hospital on the Wednesday. 'Mine was instant,' he replied when asked about the pain, with the Maroons side for the decider named a week later. 'I was lying in bed and I thought I had eaten something off and it was just stomach pain. But it started to get a lot sharper, so I drove myself to emergency that night. 'It was too much of a big line, so I thought 'stuff it' and I just went home. 'I went and told the club doctor my symptoms and she decided to get me checked. They did a little ultrasound, saw it and told me I had appendicitis and needed surgery that day. 'It was such a fast process but I just had to wait for the wounds to heal.' While appendicitis is nothing new for footy players, Howarth says there were other concerns that showed up after the initial ultrasound. He only missed two club games, but it could have been a lot worse if he hadn't been checked out. Jack Howarth is out this week after requiring surgery to have his appendix removed. Storm expect him to miss at least a few weeks (+ Origin 3). Return time can vary, but most are in the 3-5 week range. Quickest - Adam Reynolds returned just 2 weeks post appendix removal in 2017. — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 25, 2025 'I missed a bit of footy, which sucked, but they also found a bit of internal damage while I was there, so it was a blessing in disguise that I had my appendix checked,' he said. 'I don't know exactly what the other stuff was, but the doctor said I'd won the lottery and that down the track it could have been a lot worse if they hadn't spotted it. 'Everything happens for a reason and I'm just lucky that they found that problem.'
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Funny couple of weeks': Luke Garner declares he'll be at the Panthers next year after reports he could have been granted early release
Edge forward Luke Garner says he 'didn't enjoy' the past few weeks of uncertainty as he weighed up a potential early release from his Panthers deal, but he's glad it's all sorted now with confirmation he'll be at Penrith in 2026. Garner still has a year to run on his current deal but was given permission by the club to see if he could land a long-term contract at another team. Several Sydney clubs were reportedly interested in his services, but the two-time premiership winner will stay at the Panthers in 2026. 'My understanding is he is staying, which is great,' coach Ivan Cleary said last week. 'We always wanted him to stay. It was one of the situations where if he can have a look and extend you maybe think about it. 'But we're really happy, he is playing great footy and looking forward to the future with him. 'He has been really good for us, which we've needed.' Garner arrived at the Panthers in 2023 after claiming the wooden spoon with the Wests Tigers the previous year, with the versatile back-rower winning back-to-back titles coming off the bench in his two seasons with the mountain men. He's been handy coming off the bench but has also been strong whenever he's started in the back row or in the centres, with Garner just glad the situation has sorted itself out on the eve of the finals. 'It's been an interesting and funny past couple of weeks. It's something I'm not used to and I don't really enjoy,' he told the NewsWire following Penrith's big win over his former team on the weekend. 'I'll be at Penrith next year. 'I was looking elsewhere and the club was gracious enough to allow me to do that. But a big part of me didn't want to leave, and I won't be. I'll be here again next year.' Garner has started the past five matches in the back row and Cleary now has a tough choice to make with rep star Liam Martin returning from injury via the bench against the Tigers. Martin will start on the right edge going forward, with Garner and Scott Sorensen to fight it out for the other starting spot. 'I really enjoy my footy here, I love this club and I love the way that we've been playing,' Garner said. 'I just enjoy everyone's company and I can't just see myself leaving quite yet. I'm stoked to be here again. 'Ivan and I never spoke about it. He's a cool and calm dude, so it never came up. We had a little interaction the other day when it came out that I was staying, and he just let me know that he was happy that I was staying, and I said the same thing. 'He's an unreal coach and I love being coached by him.'
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Giants' double injury blow as AFL finals race heats up
GWS have suffered a double-blow in their AFL finals bid after key pair Josh Kelly and Jack Buckley were ruled out for the rest of the home-and-away season through injuries. Kelly was substituted out of the Giants' 44-point win over Sydney on Friday night and scans have since confirmed a calf strain. The 30-year-old midfielder was also managed earlier this month with a hip issue. Tall defender Buckley also has a calf strain out of the Sydney derby and faces multiple weeks on the sidelines. The pair are among three big names to miss the Giants' huge clash with the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night, with captain Toby Greene suspended. GWS (13-6) sit sixth, two wins clear of the ninth-placed Dogs (11-8) but with an inferior percentage. Meanwhile, Collingwood are hopeful midfielder Lachie Sullivan has avoided serious damage with a posterior cruciate ligament injury that could end his season. Sullivan was subbed out of the Magpies' 36-point win over Richmond on Sunday, while Scott Pendlebury was a late withdrawal because of soreness. Pendlebury is expected to be fit to face Brisbane in an MCG blockbuster on Saturday night, but Sullivan may not feature again in the Pies' premiership push. "It's a PCL. Scans will determine how long," Collingwood coach Craig McRae said of Pendlebury's injury. "We'll just wait and see on that before making too many comments around it. "But unfortunately for the young lad he had an impact into the ground which caused the PCL (injury)." Richmond expect star midfielder Tim Taranto will be fit in round 21 after he was a late withdrawal against Collingwood with a calf injury. St Kilda youngster Lance Collard faces a stint on the sidelines after he was subbed out of the epic six-point comeback win over Melbourne on Sunday with a foot injury and ended the day on crutches. West Coast young gun Harley Reid will be hoping for a positive outcome from his scans on an injured right ankle, amid fears of a syndesmosis injury. Reid was helped off the field by two trainers in the dying stages of the Eagles' 49-point loss to Fremantle on Saturday. "I just chatted to him - he's hurt his ankle," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said post-match. "I probably don't have much more information than that. "You can see Harley put no weight on it as he was coming off, and then he was able to walk off. "We'll go away, scan it and see." GWS have suffered a double-blow in their AFL finals bid after key pair Josh Kelly and Jack Buckley were ruled out for the rest of the home-and-away season through injuries. Kelly was substituted out of the Giants' 44-point win over Sydney on Friday night and scans have since confirmed a calf strain. The 30-year-old midfielder was also managed earlier this month with a hip issue. Tall defender Buckley also has a calf strain out of the Sydney derby and faces multiple weeks on the sidelines. The pair are among three big names to miss the Giants' huge clash with the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night, with captain Toby Greene suspended. GWS (13-6) sit sixth, two wins clear of the ninth-placed Dogs (11-8) but with an inferior percentage. Meanwhile, Collingwood are hopeful midfielder Lachie Sullivan has avoided serious damage with a posterior cruciate ligament injury that could end his season. Sullivan was subbed out of the Magpies' 36-point win over Richmond on Sunday, while Scott Pendlebury was a late withdrawal because of soreness. Pendlebury is expected to be fit to face Brisbane in an MCG blockbuster on Saturday night, but Sullivan may not feature again in the Pies' premiership push. "It's a PCL. Scans will determine how long," Collingwood coach Craig McRae said of Pendlebury's injury. "We'll just wait and see on that before making too many comments around it. "But unfortunately for the young lad he had an impact into the ground which caused the PCL (injury)." Richmond expect star midfielder Tim Taranto will be fit in round 21 after he was a late withdrawal against Collingwood with a calf injury. St Kilda youngster Lance Collard faces a stint on the sidelines after he was subbed out of the epic six-point comeback win over Melbourne on Sunday with a foot injury and ended the day on crutches. West Coast young gun Harley Reid will be hoping for a positive outcome from his scans on an injured right ankle, amid fears of a syndesmosis injury. Reid was helped off the field by two trainers in the dying stages of the Eagles' 49-point loss to Fremantle on Saturday. "I just chatted to him - he's hurt his ankle," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said post-match. "I probably don't have much more information than that. "You can see Harley put no weight on it as he was coming off, and then he was able to walk off. "We'll go away, scan it and see." GWS have suffered a double-blow in their AFL finals bid after key pair Josh Kelly and Jack Buckley were ruled out for the rest of the home-and-away season through injuries. Kelly was substituted out of the Giants' 44-point win over Sydney on Friday night and scans have since confirmed a calf strain. The 30-year-old midfielder was also managed earlier this month with a hip issue. Tall defender Buckley also has a calf strain out of the Sydney derby and faces multiple weeks on the sidelines. The pair are among three big names to miss the Giants' huge clash with the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night, with captain Toby Greene suspended. GWS (13-6) sit sixth, two wins clear of the ninth-placed Dogs (11-8) but with an inferior percentage. Meanwhile, Collingwood are hopeful midfielder Lachie Sullivan has avoided serious damage with a posterior cruciate ligament injury that could end his season. Sullivan was subbed out of the Magpies' 36-point win over Richmond on Sunday, while Scott Pendlebury was a late withdrawal because of soreness. Pendlebury is expected to be fit to face Brisbane in an MCG blockbuster on Saturday night, but Sullivan may not feature again in the Pies' premiership push. "It's a PCL. Scans will determine how long," Collingwood coach Craig McRae said of Pendlebury's injury. "We'll just wait and see on that before making too many comments around it. "But unfortunately for the young lad he had an impact into the ground which caused the PCL (injury)." Richmond expect star midfielder Tim Taranto will be fit in round 21 after he was a late withdrawal against Collingwood with a calf injury. St Kilda youngster Lance Collard faces a stint on the sidelines after he was subbed out of the epic six-point comeback win over Melbourne on Sunday with a foot injury and ended the day on crutches. West Coast young gun Harley Reid will be hoping for a positive outcome from his scans on an injured right ankle, amid fears of a syndesmosis injury. Reid was helped off the field by two trainers in the dying stages of the Eagles' 49-point loss to Fremantle on Saturday. "I just chatted to him - he's hurt his ankle," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said post-match. "I probably don't have much more information than that. "You can see Harley put no weight on it as he was coming off, and then he was able to walk off. "We'll go away, scan it and see."
