The Big 12 did well in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, which was held on Wednesday night in New York City.
Three Big 12 players were among the highest-ranked players on the board going into the first round. The only question was how many of them might land in the coveted lottery round, where players tend to get playing time immediately and the guaranteed money is the best of any group of players in the draft.
Here are three Big 12 takeaways from the first round of the NBA Draft.
WINNING THE LOTTERY
The Big 12 had three players selected in the lottery portion of the draft (the first 14 picks). And, this being the NBA, all three were true freshmen last year.
Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe went No. 3 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers. ESPN called the 6-foot-4 guard “the most explosive playmaker in the draft,” and he could start right away for the 76ers, who won just 24 games a season ago. He’ll have to grow on the job, but I was impressed with his late-season improvement with the Bears.
BYU’s Egor Demin went No. 8 to the Brooklyn Nets. The 6-foot-8 guard likely would have benefited from another year in school, as I don’t think his offensive skill set is as advanced as Edgecombe. But he’s a gifted passer who should only get better once he cuts down on the turnovers that limited his playing time with the Cougars.
Arizona’s Carter Bryant went No. 14 to San Antonio. At one point it wasn’t clear if the 6-foot-7 forward would declare. But he had a great pre-draft process, and the feedback clearly put him in contention for a lottery selection. His athleticism may be higher than either Edgecombe or Demin.
All three players have great potential to be stars in the league. And it was a great bounce-back for the Big 12, which didn’t have a single lottery pick a year ago.
THE BEST SITUATION
I’d have to say it’s Bryant. He’ll get to play with one of the game’s shining stars in Victor Wembanyama, who has already been an NBA All-Star, an All-Defensive NBA Player and the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year.
He also wasn’t the Spurs’ only draft pick on Wednesday, either. The Spurs had the No. 2 pick and selected Rutgers guard Dylan Harper.
The Spurs missed the playoffs but won 34 games. Along with Wembanyama, the Spurs have a solid mix of veterans, including guards De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes.
Bryant lands with a team that isn’t that far away from the play-in tournament and one that has guards he can learn from to accelerate his development.
ANY BIG 12 IN THE SECOND ROUND?
Thursday’s second round may be a shutout for the Big 12. Per ESPN, the highest-ranked remaining player on the board is West Virginia guard Javon Small, who is No. 19 overall.
In the second round, many teams are looking for players they can put on two-way contracts, which allow them to play in the NBA and in the G League. For those that follow Big 12 basketball, this is the round that Houston guard Milos Uzan wanted to avoid — and for good reason. There’s no guarantee of, well, guaranteed money in the second round.
Other Big 12 names to watch on Thursday? Arizona guard Caleb Love, Iowa State Curtis Jones, Utah guard Gabe Madsen, Baylor forward Norchad Omier, Houston guard L.J. Cryer and Texas Tech guard Chance McMillian.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
