The process leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft is officially underway. Approximately 120 players, including notable names like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Derik Queen, and Walter Clayton Jr., are gathering in Chicago for a series of events: the NBA Draft Combine, the G League Elite Camp, and individual agency pro days.
A key date approaching is the NBA draft lottery, set for Monday, May 13th, which will determine the final selection order for the first round. The draft itself is scheduled to take place on June 25th and 26th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Once the lottery results are known, the team securing the top pick and the right to draft Cooper Flagg is expected to dominate discussions for the following six weeks. Meanwhile, the remaining 29 teams will focus on evaluating the other talented prospects available beyond the Duke freshman.
The combine and Elite Camp activities at Wintrust Arena will encompass various evaluations, including on-court drills, physical measurements, athletic testing, medical examinations, team interviews, and 5-on-5 scrimmages.
The combine provides a significant opportunity for players to potentially enhance their draft position in front of hundreds of NBA executives, coaches, owners, and agents. It`s often unofficially considered the start of the league`s free agency period, as teams use this time to lay the groundwork for potential deals that can be announced once the official window opens on June 30th.
This week is one of the most crucial on the NBA calendar, offering insights into which players might boost their draft stock, who could decide to withdraw from the draft, and which prospects will become primary targets for teams as private workouts commence immediately after the combine concludes.
Who is Ready, or Willing, to Make a Jump?
Each year, a few players manage to use the combine as a platform to solidify their position in the first round or, in hindsight, demonstrate they deserved to be drafted higher. Recent examples of NBA players who helped themselves during the combine include Jalen Williams, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Nembhard, Quentin Grimes, Kevin Huerter, and Donte DiVincenzo. Other impactful players like Derrick White, Pascal Siakam, and Kyle Kuzma also showed flashes of their potential at the next level during the combine.
However, the combine isn`t always the definitive evaluation point. Jaylen Wells from Washington State last year serves as a reminder; he was initially elevated from the G League Elite Camp due to withdrawals, and his combine scrimmage performance wasn`t impressive. Yet, he finished third in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting after being a second-round pick by the Memphis Grizzlies.
This uncertainty is why many prospects choose not to participate in the scrimmages, fearing a poor showing could negatively impact their standing. While attendance for drills, interviews, and medical exams is mandatory, the 5-on-5 play is optional.
In recent years, many potential late second-round or undrafted players have declined to play in scrimmages, causing frustration among NBA executives who attend the multi-day event seeking live game evaluations. This has created some tension between teams, who want to maximize their time and resources, and agents, who often believe less exposure is better for protecting their clients` perceived value and minimizing potential weaknesses.
Historically, agents could strategically guide players toward preferred teams by withholding medical information from less desirable destinations, a practice no longer permitted under current rules.
Some players who are “testing the waters” by participating in the combine have little choice but to compete in the 5-on-5 sessions. They face important decisions about whether to remain in the draft pool or return to college, with the NCAA withdrawal deadline set for May 28th.
Notable players facing these “stay or go” decisions include Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Alex Condon (Florida), Drake Powell (North Carolina), Cedric Coward (Duke), Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn), Milos Uzan (Houston), Boogie Fland (transfer portal), Labaron Philon (Alabama), Isaiah Evans (Duke), Darrion Williams (transfer portal), Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Karter Knox (Arkansas), PJ Haggerty (transfer portal), Jamir Watkins (transfer portal), and RJ Luis Jr. (transfer portal).
The choices made by these 15 players will significantly influence the landscape of the next college basketball season. For instance, a team like Duke could see a dramatically different roster depending on the decisions of their players testing the draft waters. Other universities are patiently waiting on commitments from players like Williams, Haggerty, Watkins, and Luis, who are highly sought-after in the transfer portal. If these players don`t receive favorable feedback at the combine, lucrative NIL opportunities could await them if they opt to withdraw from the draft and return to school.
Five Players to Watch at the Combine
Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB/Michigan
Ranked No. 26 in ESPN`s Top 100, Lendeborg became a prominent figure in the transfer portal after his impressive season at UAB, ultimately committing to Michigan. He enters the predraft process with the leverage to seek an appealing NBA opportunity, as he could return to college for substantial financial compensation. His decision hinges on the level of interest from NBA teams, which he can influence with a strong performance in scrimmages.
Lendeborg`s physical attributes (6-foot-9, 240 pounds), developing skills, and overall production have boosted his prospect status and should translate well to the combine environment. Teams are keen to see how he performs, while Michigan hopes for his return, a likelihood tied directly to the feedback he receives this week.
Boogie Fland, PG, Arkansas
Ranked No. 42 in ESPN`s Top 100, Fland missed significant time during Arkansas` SEC schedule due to a thumb injury but returned for a limited role in the NCAA tournament before entering the transfer portal with multiple options. NBA teams are eager to observe his performance in 5-on-5 settings, which typically favor guards, allowing him to showcase his crafty playmaking and scoring abilities. Despite lacking ideal size (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) and measurables, he is still only 18 and brings a solid reputation from his pre-college career. He is expected to garner interest, especially in a combine field that may lack some higher-ranked participants.
Fland`s promising start to the season and the fact he missed a key portion of conference play make him an interesting prospect. However, like many players truly exploring their draft options, he likely needs an exceptional showing at the combine to feel confident about his NBA prospects compared to the financial and playing time opportunities available in college. He, alongside his Arkansas teammate Karter Knox and Auburn`s Tahaad Pettiford, are among the young players weighing similar significant decisions.
Darrion Williams, SF/PF, Texas Tech
Ranked No. 46 in ESPN`s Top 100, Williams is currently in the transfer portal without a commitment for the next season and has been participating in NBA workouts recently while considering his choices. A series of strong performances in the NCAA tournament significantly raised his profile as a prospect. There is high demand for his services in the college ranks, including the possibility of returning to Texas Tech. This is another instance where Williams` play at the combine could influence his potential draft range; an interested NBA team might need to provide some level of guarantee to keep him in the draft pool.
Williams possesses a versatile skill set and strong basketball IQ, capable of playing both forward positions and even handling the ball as a playmaker. From an NBA perspective, his athleticism, frame (6-foot-6, 225 pounds), and defensive abilities could be areas for improvement. However, players with similar profiles, such as Georges Niang of Atlanta, offer a potential blueprint for how he could fit into an NBA rotation.
Performing well in the scrimmages could help his draft stock, but returning to college to work on his physique and jump shot (34% from 3 last season) is also a viable and realistic path to potentially improving his standing for the following year`s draft.
Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane Bullets (Australia)
Ranked No. 47 in ESPN`s Top 100, Zikarsky entered the year with some first-round buzz but saw his production decline in his second NBL season despite increased minutes. Standing 7-foot-3 with a 7-4 wingspan, the Australian big man offers impressive physical tools, showing good coordination for his size and the ability to alter shots near the basket. However, his capacity to make a significant impact and secure consistent playing time has been limited, partly due to difficulties keeping pace with faster games, causing NBA teams to adopt a wait-and-see approach regarding his draft timeline.
Still just 18 years old, he has ample time to develop and become more comfortable with his large frame. NBA front offices have been interested in his size and unique background for several years: he comes from a family of elite swimmers, including his 6-10 father, who won an Olympic bronze for Germany in 1996, and his 6-1 mother, an Australian champion ironwoman.
As the tallest listed player invited to the combine, Zikarsky has the opportunity to remind teams of his value as a developmental investment. The recent NBA playoffs, where centers like Rudy Gobert and Steven Adams had notable impacts, have reinforced the importance of having size on the roster, even as a situational option. Zikarsky needs more experience, but players with his physical profile are rare. In a draft potentially light on centers and with many college players likely returning to school for better financial deals, Zikarsky has a chance to improve his stock with a solid combine showing.
Miles Byrd, SG, San Diego State
Ranked No. 51 in ESPN`s Top 100, Byrd`s physical tools and defensive prowess have made him an intriguing sleeper for NBA front offices following the Aztecs` season. As a young sophomore who will turn 21 in early September, he recorded an impressive 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game from the wing position.
He has displayed flashes of passing ability, but his offensive game remains a work in progress. He needs to add strength to his 6-foot-7, 190-pound frame, but his trajectory as a late bloomer has earned him favor among front offices. While Byrd shot only 30% from 3-point range last season, he attempted nearly six per game. His history as a solid free-throw shooter offers some optimism for improvement in this crucial offensive skill.
There is a question of how early a team would be willing to take a chance on his skill development, especially with the option of returning to San Diego State still available. A positive performance in the scrimmages, where he must hold his own physically and demonstrate his defensive playmaking skills, could help him secure a guaranteed contract, which may be necessary to keep him in the draft pool.
Agency Pro Days: Gauging Interest
Following two days of 5-on-5 scrimmages, agents will take center stage towards the end of the week, guiding their clients through scripted routines designed to accentuate their strengths and minimize weaknesses. In the past, teams would travel across the country to attend these workouts, but rule changes have consolidated them to locations in Chicago and a separate session in Los Angeles.
NBA teams have varying perspectives on these agency workouts. Some value the opportunity to sit courtside and observe prospects, including many of the highest-ranked players in the draft, allowing them to see physical attributes, athleticism, and shooting form up close, which they might otherwise see very little of.
Other teams view these workouts as an excuse for agents to pull players from competitive scrimmages in favor of highly choreographed, performance-style drills. Among high-level decision-makers, NBA attendance at these pro days has noticeably decreased over the past few years, as executives no longer feel compelled to attend every session out of fear of missing something significant.
Consequently, top lottery prospects now participate in these workouts less frequently, which negatively impacts other clients from larger agencies who often depend on the star power of top prospects to attract large numbers of NBA team personnel to the gym.
It will be interesting to observe how teams view the evolution of pro days this year. Regardless of whether teams publicly acknowledge it, some prospects in the past have undoubtedly boosted their draft stock simply by showcasing their physical talent and abilities in front of a substantial NBA audience.
Top Prospects at the G League Elite Camp
The G League Elite Camp is set to begin this weekend, with 45 players scheduled to participate in the two-day event. Historically, the top five to eight performers in the scrimmages from this camp can earn an invitation to move on to the main NBA Draft Combine later in the week. This pathway has benefited players like LA Clippers guard Terance Mann, Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin (both in 2019), and Oklahoma City Thunder wing Aaron Wiggins (in 2021), who were later drafted and have established solid NBA careers.
Other alumni of the G League Elite Camp, including Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Vince Williams Jr., and Jose Alvarado, did not receive the combine call-up but went on to become impactful NBA players.
There are numerous examples of players who attended the G League Elite Camp, such as Andrew Nembhard, Dillon Jones, and Marcus Sasser, who subsequently withdrew from the draft but later developed into NBA draft picks after utilizing the feedback and experience gained in Chicago.
Some of the notable prospects scheduled to participate in this year`s G League Elite Camp include Malique Lewis (South East Melbourne), Amari Williams (Kentucky), Caleb Love (Arizona), Caleb Grill (Missouri), and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Penn State).
