NBA 2025 Draft: Cooper Flagg and 12 Others Invited to Prestigious Green Room at Barclays Center
As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, the anticipation is palpable. The first wave of invitations has been announced, and thirteen players have been given the honor of attending the draft and sitting in the green room at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn later this month. Among them is Copper Flagg, the former Duke star and presumed No. 1 overall pick, who averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in his lone season with the Blue Devils, helping them reach the Final Four and earning consensus National Player of the Year honors.
Other players receiving invitations include Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, Khaman Maluach, Jeremiah Fears, Kon Knueppel, Kasparas Jakučionis, Egor Demin, Carter Bryant, Derik Queen, and Asa Newell. Another 11 invitations are expected to be sent out in the near future.
The draft is a significant event for players as they are allowed to invite six people to sit with them at their table, which will be located in front of the NBA Draft podium in the arena. While an invitation is no guarantee of a player's draft stock, it is generally considered a good sign. Of the 13 players who have been invited, nine of them are projected to be lottery picks in the latest mock draft from Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor. All 13 are safely projected to go in the first round.
The Dallas Mavericks, who just won the NBA Draft lottery for the first time in franchise history after trading away star Luka Dončić, have a workout set with Flagg next week. All signs are pointing toward the Mavericks selecting Flagg as the No. 1 overall pick. This would be a significant move for a team that has been looking to rebuild its roster and establish a new identity on the court.
The first round of the NBA Draft is set for June 25, marking the second year that the draft is split up into two days. With so much excitement surrounding this year's draft, it's sure to be a memorable one for both fans and players alike. The future of the NBA is about to take shape as these young talents enter the league and begin their journeys towards becoming stars on the court.
