Atlanta Hawks select Georgia's Asa Newell in first round of the 2025 NBA draft
Former Georgia Bulldogs basketball forward Asa Newell was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks 23rd in the 2025 NBA draft, making him the first Georgia player drafted in the first round since Anthony Edwards in 2020.
It seemed destined from his high school years that Newell would become a first round NBA draft pick. Newell was the 19th ranked prospect in the nation coming out of high school when he committed to the Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 25, 2023.
He showed his immense talent through just one season with the Bulldogs. As a freshman, Newell led all Bulldogs in points per game (15.4) and rebounds per game (6.9), and was second in blocks per game (1.0). He was the No. 1 option for a Georgia Bulldogs team that made the NCAA March Madness Tournament for the first time since 2015.
Some analysts mocked the Atlanta Hawks selecting Newell with pick No. 22, a pick the Hawks acquired in the Dejounte Murray trade. However, the Hawks traded pick No. 22 to the Nets to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Celtics the day before the draft.
Then, on draft day, the Hawks dealt pick No. 13 (acquired from Sacramento in a trade for Kevin Huerter) to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for pick No. 23 and an unprotected first from 2026. It will be the more valuable one of the two first rounders the Pelicans own in 2026 (theirs and Milwaukee's).
The Hawks selection of Newell is reminiscent of when the Falcons drafted Jalon Walker with the 15th pick to keep him in Georgia. It's easy for Georgia fans to root for a former Bulldog on an Atlanta team, and now, Georgia fans get to watch two former Bulldogs grow into stars in two different sports.
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