How many picks are there in the 2025 NBA Draft?

The first round of the NBA draft tips off Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Dallas Mavericks hold the first pick, which most experts expect will be used on Duke star Cooper Flagg. Dylan Harper is the consensus second pick to the San Antonio Spurs, but the draft gets much more unpredictable from No. 3 onward.

Leading up to the first round, trades are anticipated throughout the night. Teams with multiple first-round picks, like the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards, could package their picks to move up. On the other hand, teams such as the Spurs or Philadelphia 76ers could move back in exchange for future picks or players.

This year's draft class is a deep one led by Flagg. There is a strong freshman presence at the top, giving this class a chance to break the record for consecutive freshmen selected in an NBA draft. Despite the certainty of the Mavericks’ selection at the top, many questions remain as fans look ahead to the first round.

How many picks are there in the 2025 NBA draft?

There will be 59 picks made across both rounds of the NBA draft. Typically, 60 selections are made, but the New York Knicks forfeited their second-round pick for tampering violations when they recruited Jalen Brunson in 2022.

In the first round, six teams have multiple picks: the Spurs, Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Utah Jazz. The Nets currently have five first-round picks after acquiring No. 22 from the Atlanta Hawks as part of the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta.

If Brooklyn makes all five picks, it would set a record for most first-round selections by a single team. However, the Nets and other teams with multiple first-round picks are expected to package them in trades, either to acquire players or move up the draft board.

What is the format of the NBA draft?

Because the NBA draft is split across two nights, the rules differ for each round. In the first round, teams have five minutes to make their selection or submit trades. In the second round, on Thursday, they have four minutes.

Some picks will be made quickly, especially early in the round. After shutting down rumors that the No. 1 pick could be traded for Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and the team will use their pick on Flagg.

Teams trading picks may make selections for one another and exchange players later. Dallas and Atlanta did this in the 2018 draft when they swapped Luka Doncic and Trae Young.

How many trades could be made during the NBA draft?

Some chaos on the trade market is expected, but the exact number of trades is tough to predict. Player and pick movement could happen as early as No. 2 if the Spurs pursue Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown. After trading away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics are still listening to offers for their All-Star.

Picks No. 2 and 3 could be on the move if the right offer is made. Both the 76ers and Spurs will try to compete next season, giving teams like the Utah Jazz or Washington Wizards a path to move up if they want the first chance to draft a player like Ace Bailey.

Trades become more likely as the draft continues. With so many teams holding multiple picks, experts expect aggressive moves to climb the board. The Thunder, for example, do not have roster space for both of their first-round picks. General manager Sam Presti is rumored to be packaging both to move into the top 10..

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This year’s NBA draft should be an exciting event as commissioner Adam Silver and the league welcome the next era of stars. Flagg and Harper highlight the best the class has to offer, but talented players are spread throughout the draft boards. Teams will hope to follow OKC's example and build a championship team on draft night.