An Ace, a Bluff, and a Draft Full of Drama: 5 Jaw-Dropping Takeaways from the First Round of the 2025 NBA Draft

An Ace, a Bluff, and a Draft Full of Drama: 5 Jaw-Dropping Takeaways from the First Round of the 2025 NBA Draft

The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is in the books  and what a night it was. Cooper Flagg going No. 1 overall to the Dallas Mavericks might have been a foregone conclusion, but the rest of the evening delivered surprise picks, bold moves, and major storylines that could shape the future of the NBA.

Here are five major takeaways from a wild night in Brooklyn:

1. The Jazz Didn’t Fold — They Went All In on Ace Bailey

Despite a very public bluff, Utah called it.

Ace Bailey, the electric wing from Rutgers, made it clear he preferred an East Coast destination. He even refused workouts with multiple teams  including Utah. That didn’t faze the Jazz. They snagged Bailey with the No. 5 pick anyway.

And why not? He’s a top-tier talent, and Utah’s fan base is known for embracing stars who buy in. Kendrick Perkins said it best on the ESPN broadcast: “If Ace embraces the Jazz, they’ll love him forever.”

To sweeten the night, Utah later traded up to grab Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. at No. 18. Bold night. Big upside.

2. Everything’s Bigger in Texas — Including NBA Hauls

Texas didn’t just show up to the 2025 Draft — the Lone Star State dominated.

• Houston: Acquired Kevin Durant in a stunning trade just days ago.
• Dallas: Drafted Cooper Flagg No. 1 overall  the franchise cornerstone post-Luka.
• San Antonio: Scooped up Dylan Harper with the No. 2 pick, pairing him with Victor Wembanyama and recent addition De’Aaron Fox.

That’s three All-Star caliber players added in a week. Texas basketball just turned into must-watch TV every single night.

3. Vive La France: French Players Continue to Flood the League

France has become an NBA talent goldmine.

After producing two straight No. 1 picks (Victor Wembanyama in 2023 and Zaccharie Risacher in 2024), three more French standouts were selected in the first round:

• Noa Essengue — No. 12 to the Chicago Bulls
• Joan Beringer — No. 17 to the Minnesota Timberwolves
• Nolan Traore — No. 19 to the Brooklyn Nets

That’s nine first-rounders from France in just three years. The international pipeline isn’t just real  it’s thriving.

4. Jon Scheyer Is Building a Monster at Duke

Replacing a legend like Coach K seemed like an impossible task  but Jon Scheyer is crushing it.

After leading Duke to a Final Four, Scheyer watched three of his freshmen go in the top 10 of the draft:

• Cooper Flagg — No. 1 to Dallas
• Kon Knueppel — No. 4 to Charlotte
• Khaman Maluach — No. 10 to Houston (rights traded to Phoenix)

That’s six first-round picks in three years under Scheyer  more than Krzyzewski had in his final three seasons.

This isn’t a rebuild. This is a reload.

5. Did the Suns Just Win the Durant Trade?

Trading away Kevin Durant seemed like a sacrifice. But after draft night, the Suns may have come out ahead.

Phoenix selected 7’2” shot-blocking phenom Khaman Maluach at No. 10 — a huge win for a team desperate for interior defense and rim protection. Maluach’s rights are headed to the Suns, where he’ll join a young, athletic group that now includes Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks.

Durant will help Houston contend now, but Phoenix is playing the long game — and doing it well.

Final Thought:

The 2025 NBA Draft wasn’t just about selections — it was about statements. Utah made theirs with Bailey. Texas planted its flag. And Duke proved, once again, that the Brotherhood is alive and thriving.

And don’t blink — we’ve still got Round 2 on Thursday night.