The official start of the 2025 NBA predraft activities is set for Saturday in Chicago. Around 120 prospects, including notable names like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Derik Queen, and Walter Clayton Jr., are expected to gather for events such as the NBA Draft Combine, G League Elite Camp, and various agency pro days.
On Monday, the anticipation builds with the NBA Draft Lottery reveal, which will determine the final selection order for the first round. The 2025 NBA Draft itself is scheduled to take place on June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Whichever franchise lands the coveted top pick and the right to draft Cooper Flagg will likely dominate headlines in the six weeks following the lottery. Meanwhile, the remaining 29 teams will focus their attention on evaluating the rest of the talented prospect pool beyond the highly-touted Duke freshman.
The combine and Elite Camp, held at Wintrust Arena, are packed with activities designed for prospect evaluation. Players will participate in various drills, undergo physical measurements and athletic testing, complete medical examinations, attend team interviews, and engage in 5-on-5 scrimmages.
The combine serves as a crucial platform for players aiming to elevate their draft standing, offering them a chance to impress hundreds of NBA executives, coaches, owners, and agents. Often described as the unofficial beginning of free agency, the combine also allows teams to lay the groundwork for future deals that can be officially announced once the free agency window opens on June 30.
This week marks one of the most significant periods on the NBA calendar. There is much to anticipate, including which players might significantly boost their draft stock, who may opt to withdraw their names from consideration, and which prospects will become focal points for private workouts immediately following the combine`s conclusion.
Analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo offer their insights into what they are hearing and what to expect, highlighting five specific prospects worth watching closely.
Who is Ready to Make a Jump?
Each year, several players leverage the combine to significantly improve their standing, sometimes solidifying a spot in the first round or demonstrating potential that retrospectively suggests they should have been drafted higher.
Recent examples of players who notably helped themselves during the combine include Jalen Williams, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Nembhard, Quentin Grimes, Kevin Huerter, and Donte DiVincenzo. Earlier instances like Derrick White, Pascal Siakam, and Kyle Kuzma also showcased flashes of the skills that would later make them impactful NBA contributors.
However, the combine isn`t always the definitive measure. Consider Jaylen Wells: initially not invited last year, he was added late due to withdrawals. His combine scrimmage performance wasn`t spectacular, yet he finished third in Rookie of the Year voting after being a second-round pick for the Memphis Grizzlies.
This uncertainty is why many prospects choose not to participate in the scrimmages, fearing a poor outing could negatively impact their draft projection. While attending the combine for drills, interviews, and medicals is mandatory, the 5-on-5 games are optional.
In recent years, this trend of late second-round or undrafted prospects declining scrimmages has caused frustration among attending NBA executives who invest time and resources into the event. This creates tension between teams seeking comprehensive evaluations and agents who believe minimizing exposure might protect their clients from highlighting weaknesses.
Previously, agents could selectively share medical information to steer players towards preferred teams, a practice that is now prohibited.
However, some players who are primarily “testing the waters” will find it necessary to compete in the 5-on-5s. They face important decisions regarding whether to remain in the draft or return to college by the NCAA withdrawal deadline on May 28.
Notable players facing such “stay or go” decisions include Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Alex Condon (Florida), Drake Powell (North Carolina), Cedric Coward (Duke), Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn), Milos Uzan (Houston), Boogie Fland (transfer portal), Labaron Philon (Alabama), Isaiah Evans (Duke), Darrion Williams (transfer portal), Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Karter Knox (Arkansas), PJ Haggerty (transfer portal), Jamir Watkins (transfer portal), and RJ Luis Jr. (transfer portal).
The choices made by these 15 players will significantly shape the landscape of next year`s college basketball season. Teams like Duke, for instance, could look dramatically different depending on their testing players` decisions. Other programs are patiently awaiting the decisions of players like Williams, Haggerty, Watkins, and Luis, who are among the most sought-after in the transfer portal. If these players don`t receive favorable feedback from NBA teams, substantial NIL opportunities could await them if they decide to withdraw from the draft and return to college.
Five Players to Watch at the Combine
Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB/Michigan
Ranked No. 26 in ESPN`s Top 100
Lendeborg emerged as a top name in the transfer portal after a strong season at UAB, subsequently committing to Michigan. As a college standout, he enters the predraft process with the financial flexibility to return to school for significant earnings if NBA interest isn`t sufficiently high. His decision hinges on not just interest, but the level of interest, which he can influence with a strong scrimmage performance.
His size (6-foot-9, 240 pounds), developing skills, and overall production have boosted his prospect profile and should translate well in the combine environment. NBA teams are keen to observe his performance, while Michigan hopes he opts to return, a choice likely dependent on the feedback he receives this week.
Boogie Fland, PG, Arkansas
Ranked No. 42 in ESPN`s Top 100
After a thumb injury sidelined him for a significant part of Arkansas` SEC schedule, Fland played a limited role in the NCAA tournament before entering the transfer portal with numerous college options. NBA teams are eager to see him in the 5-on-5 setting, which typically benefits guards, providing an opportunity for Fland to showcase his craftiness and scoring abilities. Despite lacking ideal size (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) and measurements, he is still young (18 years old) and brings a solid reputation from his pre-college days. He is expected to draw interest, especially in a combine field that might see less participation from top-tier prospects.
Fland`s promising start to the season, interrupted by injury, makes him intriguing. However, like many prospects genuinely exploring their draft options, he may require an exceptional showing to feel confident about his NBA prospects relative to the financial and playing time opportunities available back in college. Fland, along with Arkansas teammate Karter Knox and Auburn`s Tahaad Pettiford, are among the young players considering similar crucial decisions.
Darrion Williams, SF/PF, Texas Tech
Ranked No. 46 in ESPN`s Top 100
Currently in the transfer portal and uncommitted for the upcoming season, Williams has been participating in NBA workout circuits while evaluating his future. A series of impressive performances during the NCAA tournament elevated his profile as a prospect. There is high demand for his talents in the college ranks, including the possibility of returning to Texas Tech. His performance at the combine could sway his potential draft range; he likely needs some level of guarantee from an NBA team to stay in the draft.
Williams offers a versatile skill set and strong basketball IQ, capable of playing both forward spots and initiating offense as a playmaker. His athleticism, frame (6-foot-6, 225 pounds), and defensive capabilities may not be elite by NBA standards, but successful players with similar profiles, such as Atlanta`s Georges Niang, provide a potential pathway for him to fit into a rotation.
While a strong showing in scrimmages could benefit him, returning to college to focus on developing his physique and jump shot (he shot 34% from three) is also a realistic option that could improve his stock for the following year`s draft.
Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane Bullets (Australia)
Ranked No. 47 in ESPN`s Top 100
Starting the year with some first-round buzz, Zikarsky saw his production decline slightly despite increased minutes in his second NBL season. Standing at 7-foot-3 with a 7-4 wingspan, the Australian center possesses significant physical advantages. He exhibits good coordination for his size and can effectively impact shots around the rim. However, his struggles to keep pace with faster games have limited his overall impact and led NBA teams to adopt a wait-and-see approach regarding his draft timeline.
Still only 18, he has time to adapt and grow more comfortable with his large frame. NBA front offices have long been intrigued by his size and unique background; his 6-10 father won an Olympic bronze medal in swimming for Germany in 1996, and his 6-1 mother was a champion Australian ironwoman.
As the tallest player listed at the combine, Zikarsky has a prime opportunity to remind teams of his potential developmental value. The recent NBA playoffs, where centers like Rudy Gobert and Steven Adams demonstrated their impact, highlight the continuing need for size upfront, even as a situational option. Zikarsky needs more experience, but players with his physical tools are rare. In a draft potentially lighter on centers and with many college players expected to return for NIL opportunities, Zikarsky has a chance to enhance his draft prospects with a solid performance.
Miles Byrd, SG, San Diego State
Ranked No. 51 in ESPN`s Top 100
Byrd`s physical tools and defensive capabilities have made him an intriguing sleeper prospect for NBA front offices following the Aztecs` season. As a young sophomore turning 21 in September, he posted impressive averages of 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game from the wing position.
He has shown flashes of passing skill, though his offensive game is still developing. Adding muscle to his 6-foot-7, 190-pound frame is necessary, but his trajectory as a late bloomer has gained favor with some front offices. Despite shooting just 30% from three last season, he attempted nearly six per game. His historical consistency as a free-throw shooter offers optimism for potential improvement in this critical area.
The question remains how early a team might be willing to draft him based on his developmental potential, especially with the option to return to San Diego State still available. A positive showing in scrimmages, where he must hold his own physically and showcase his defensive playmaking, could help secure a guaranteed contract, which might be the deciding factor for him to remain in the draft.
Agency Pro Days: Gauging Interest Levels
Following two days dedicated to 5-on-5 scrimmages, agents will take the spotlight on Thursday and Friday. They will host orchestrated routines designed to highlight their clients` strengths while minimizing any weaknesses.
Historically, teams would travel across the country to attend these workouts. However, rule changes have centralized them, bringing workouts under one roof in Chicago and at the Los Angeles Lakers` practice facility on May 20-21.
NBA teams have mixed views on these pro days. Some value the opportunity to sit courtside and observe prospects, including many top-ranked players who might skip scrimmages, getting an up-close look at their physical attributes, athleticism, and shooting form – aspects they might otherwise see very little of.
Other teams view these workouts as merely an excuse for agents to keep top players out of competitive scrimmages in favor of staged drills. Among high-level decision-makers, attendance at these pro days has reportedly decreased in recent years, as executives no longer feel the pressure of missing out on a potentially significant observation.
Consequently, lottery-projected players are less frequently participating in these workouts, which can negatively impact other clients from large agencies who often rely on top prospects to draw large numbers of NBA personnel to the gym.
It will be interesting to see how teams perceive the evolution of pro days this year. Regardless of whether teams acknowledge it, some prospects have undoubtedly boosted their draft stock in the past simply by demonstrating their physical talent and abilities in front of a significant NBA audience during these showcase events.
Top Prospects at the G League Elite Camp
The G League Elite Camp is set to commence this weekend, with approximately 45 players scheduled to attend the two-day event. Typically, the five to eight best performers from the scrimmages earn a promotion to the main NBA Draft Combine later in the week. This pathway has been used successfully by players like Terance Mann (LA Clippers) and Cody Martin (Charlotte Hornets) in 2019, and Aaron Wiggins (Oklahoma City Thunder) in 2021, who were eventually drafted and went on to establish solid NBA careers.
Other alumni of the G League Elite Camp, including Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Vince Williams Jr., and Jose Alvarado, did not receive the combine call-up but still developed into impactful NBA players.
There`s also a history of G League Elite Camp participants like Andrew Nembhard, Dillon Jones, and Marcus Sasser, who attended the camp, withdrew from the draft, and later became NBA draft picks after using the feedback and experience gained in Chicago to refine their game.
Among this year`s notable prospects expected to play at the G League Elite Camp are Malique Lewis (South East Melbourne), Amari Williams (Kentucky), Caleb Love (Arizona), Caleb Grill (Missouri), and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Penn State).
