Florida basketball star Walter Clayton Jr. earns NBA draft green room invite
Florida basketball star Walter Clayton Jr. has received a green room invitation for the 2025 NBA draft, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony.
Clayton's invitation comes on the heels of a historic season under head coach Todd Golden, where he led the Gators to a national championship and delivered one of the most dominant campaigns in program history.
Clayton, a 6-foot-3-inch guard from Lake Wales, scored a Florida single-season record 713 points, becoming the first player in school history to earn consensus first-team All-America honors.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, Clayton was the engine of Golden's offense, delivering clutch performances in every major moment. He was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player, SEC Tournament MVP and a Wooden Award finalist.
Clayton posted 30 or more points in back-to-back Elite Eight and Final Four wins–something no player had done at that stage since Larry Bird.
Clayton finished his Orange and Blue career with 1,346 points, the most every by a transfer at Florida. His combination of scoring, leadership and performances under the national spotlight has propelled him into first-round territory, and the green room invite makes that momentum official.
With Clayton set to represent the Florida Gators on the NBA's biggest stage, Golden and Florida continue to prove they can develop top-tier talent ready to shine at the next level.
How to watch the 2025 NBA draft
The 2025 NBA draft will begin with the first round on Wednesday, June 25 at 8 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN. The second round of the draft will start the following day on Thursday, June 26. That will also start at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
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