Nets 2025 NBA Draft first round recap: Brooklyn makes history
NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets went into the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday armed with five first-round picks that may around the league expected them to get creative with. Much to the surprise of many who were watching the festivities take place, Brooklyn not only went off the projected path, but they also did something that was unprecedented before Wednesday.
Instead of trading at least one of those picks, the Nets used all five of their picks on players in the same draft, something that had not been done before in the history of the NBA. Per David Suggs of Sporting News (h/t to Paul Kasabian of Bleacher Report), the previous record for most picks used in the same draft was in 1990 and 2009, when the Sacramento Kings and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off those feats, respectively.
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While there was plenty of buzz suggesting that Brooklyn would try to make something happen on the board by either moving up or moving some of their picks to future years, but they ended up staying put and took the players that wanted. Here is the recap of the first round for the Nets once Wednesday was over:
#8: Egor Demin, G, BYU
Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Egor Demin stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the eighth pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Demin being taken at this spot surprised a lot of people around the league given that he was supposed to go outside of the Lottery because of the questions related to his shooting ability and whether he would be able to keep up with the baseline athleticism of the NBA. However, the selection of Demin made it clear that general manager Sean Marks and head coach Jordi Fernandez were looking for players that can handle the ball and make plays.
"Well, I was playing all my life at point guard, so I see myself as a point guard. But I also am willing to do whatever it takes for me to bring success to the team and impact the game in a good way. If Coach wants me to be a center, I'll be a center. I have no problem with that. I just know I'm a playmaker, and no matter what position I'm playing or what spot I'm playing on the floor, I'm going to make plays."
#19: Nolan Traore, G, France
Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Nolan Traore stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 19th pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Traore was the second first-round pick that the Nets had in the 2025 NBA Draft and while they could have tried to address a different position, they chose to double down on a player in Traore that could play at the point guard spot. Traore is a player with solid size (6-foot-3, 175 pounds) for the position coupled with quickness that could make him a tough cover for even the best athletes at the next level.
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Similar to Demin, Traore will have to find a way to contribute for Brooklyn either by using his physical and passing gifts or by improving his jumpshot to the point that that becomes a weapon in his arsenal. Like many draft prospects, Traore is raw while having a few tools that could help him on the floor right away, but his development will be key for his future.
"I bring a lot of pace to the game, a lot of IQ. Being able to make the right play and play the right way for the team, make everyone better around me."
#22: Drake Powell, F, North Carolina
Drake Powell, University of North Carolina guard.
Powell was the one player who stood out from the rest due to the fact that he wasn't a player that is projected to be a ball-handler in any capacity unlike the selections of Demin and Traore. Powell appears to be a player who will spend all of his time on the wing as an off-ball player, but the hope is that his shooting and defense can be scaled up to the NBA level.
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Powell is probably the one with the most questions out of the entire first-round class for the Nets given that his role at North Carolina was mostly as a 3-and-D, something that could mean that his upside is not as high as most prospects taken in the first round. Marks explained why the team went with Powell with the No. 22 pick and what the team sees in him:
"Look, I think again, it goes back to maybe taking the best available at that particular point. You know, I loved watching Drake and going back, watching him back in his high school days, and you watch the length that he has, the athletic ability he has, and you know, I don't think he got an opportunity to show everything, obviously, at the college level. So when he was in here for his workouts, and you do a lot of the testing and so forth, you see him up close and personal and figure out what a class act and what a great young man he is.
#26: Ben Saraf, G, Israel
Israeli guard Ben Saraf
The selection of Saraf was a continuation of the Nets making sure that they had enough prospects on the roster that can run an offense and hopefully become more than just ball-handlers if they are able to make their potential. Saraf is similar to Demin in that he has excellent size for the point guard spot, but his shooting and athleticism will be tested at the next level.
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Saraf appears to be the kind of guy that has a great feel for the game and for creating opportunities for himself and others, something that Brooklyn needs in bunches if they are going to improve on the offensive end. Here's what Marks had to say when asked about the selection of Saraf and whether his performance in the BBL league had any extra influence:
"It's been great. I mean, their development, to be able to play at that level. And I think, Ben's probably played, if not 70, close to 70 games this year. So, I mean, he's played almost a full NBA season already for a 19 year old. I love Ben's toughness. I mean, it's just flat-out, you watch how he plays, very cerebral player, very creative in how he plays on the court, great passing ability, moves the ball incredibly well. Again, I'm looking forward to seeing his upside and development, but playing over there, at that level, certainly stood out to us."
#27: Danny Wolf, F/C, Michigan
Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Danny Wolf stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 27th pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Wolf is arguably the most interesting prospect that the Nets took on Wednesday as he fits the mold of the ball-handler with a potential for more while being in a 6-foot-11, 250-pound body. Wolf was essentially used as a point guard during his time at Michigan and if he can carry that over to the NBA, his ceiling is raised significantly because of how unique his skill set is.
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The theme with Wolf is the same as most of Brooklyn's prospects in that his shooting will have to improve in some way if he is going to be the player that the Nets are hoping for by taking him with their fifth (and last) pick of the first round. Wolf had a chance to speak with the media following his selection to explain what his role could be moving forward:
"Yeah, I think it's open minded. You have to earn whatever role you get, whether that's ball dominant, whether that's an off-ball guy. It's up to you to determine what that is, just how you perform and practice. You have to earn the coaches' trust and belief and confidence in you. I know that's what I'm going to do from day one. Yeah, just going to try to earn that as best I can because I know what I can do, whatever that might look like. I'm going to mold to the role, best of my ability. But within that, just kind of keep working until I get what I want."
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets 2025 NBA Draft first round recap: Brooklyn makes history
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