NBA Draft 2025

Keep in mind. Freshman year he played in the cheers conference. Then shin splints then had operation and awesome year and 1 bad game. IMO he’s got ton of upside. He’s got great family so the decision was well thought out. I’m betting if he doesn’t stock nba he’s g league then cones up and sticks on my not humble opinion
 
SLYFOXX1968 said:
Just looking at some of the Names in the 1st and 2nd Round predicted Draftees , I shake my head .
There is no way some of the guys are better players than RJ . That’s my opinion anyway .
Karraban , who was projected before he backed out ? He isn’t near the Player that Luis is .
Yes , i’m not a NBA Scout but , even those guys aren’t 100 percent right .

Who can ever forget Frederick Weis , drafted by the Knicks ahead of Ron Artest .
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Knowing the Knicks back then, no one else but the Knicks had Weiss anywhere near the first round.
 
mjmaherjr said:
Keep in mind. Freshman year he played in the cheers conference. Then shin splints then had operation and awesome year and 1 bad game. IMO he’s got ton of upside. He’s got great family so the decision was well thought out. I’m betting if he doesn’t stock nba he’s g league then cones up and sticks on my not humble opinion
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I agree with you on RJ. In addition to what you wrote , I looked back on the 2024-25 All BE Pre Season Team Selections .

They’re were 3 Teams of Players selected . RJ wasn’t one of them.

1 st team was Kalk, Caraban, Kam Jones , Hopkins , KR.

2nd team had Devion Smith , despite him never playing a BE game .

I won’t go into any other of these players . Zuby and RJ didn’t even make the 3 rd team .

Pre Season player of the year was Kalk . Not a bad choice but , he didn’t get it .

I don’t recall if the Pre Season teams are Coaches selections or , Reporters ?

My point being , in either case , Coaches or Scouts making selections are not Infallible. They completely missed on both , RJ and Zuby .

Anyway , since RJ has remained in the draft , foregoing 2-3 $ Million in NIL money , I think it’s possible he’s had some positive feedback from some NBA teams . It’s pure speculation on my part . Which might account for his and his family and advisors opting to remain in the draft .

No one turns down that kind of $$$ on the basis of being tired of playing College BB .
 
SLYFOXX1968 said:
Anyway , since RJ has remained in the draft , I think it’s possible he’s had some positive feedback from some NBA teams .
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Not sure what preseason team votes have to do player evaluations - one happens BEFORE the games are played and the other is AFTER you have seen the player extensively.

You are entirely right that he may have gotten some positive feedback.

However it is also possible that now is his best chance at the NBA so he is taking that swing at the most propitious moment for himself.

RJ is currently 22.5, if he waited until next year he would be 23.5.

For context, there are only four players in the top 38 who are over 19: Queen, Wolf, Clifford, Raynaud. Of those the only one who is in the top 20 is Queen (who is also the youngest at 20) and there is only one who is older than RJ would be next year (Raynaud, 24).

If you look at the rest of the draft from 38-59, there are only 6 players who are at or above what RJ's age would be next year (Watkins, #38, Tonje #42, Dixon #45, Goldin #50, Lahkin #53, Peavy #58).

Bottom line is that RJ at 23.5 is unlikely to be a better draft prospect than RJ at 22.5 because he is already older than 52 of the 59 players in the draft and with two exceptions coming in at #24 and #39 everyone else that age is basically where he is now - bottom half of the second round.

Understand it seems counterintuitive to old dogs (or old foxes) that 22.5 or 23.5 is "old" but from an NBA perspective once you pass 20 they lose interest pretty quickly.

But completely agree (as I said previously) that they don't always get it right.
 
lawmanfan said:
Not sure what preseason team votes have to do player evaluations - one happens BEFORE the games are played and the other is AFTER you have seen the player extensively.
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I believe his point was that player evaluations (preseason player awards or draft rankings) aren’t always perfect. And if RJ could drastically out perform his BE preseason prognosis, perhaps he will do the same with the pre draft ones.
 
lawmanfan said:
Not sure what preseason team votes have to do player evaluations - one happens BEFORE the games are played and the other is AFTER you have seen the player extensively.

You are entirely right that he may have gotten some positive feedback.

However it is also possible that now is his best chance at the NBA so he is taking that swing at the most propitious moment for himself.

RJ is currently 22.5, if he waited until next year he would be 23.5.

For context, there are only four players in the top 38 who are over 19: Queen, Wolf, Clifford, Raynaud. Of those the only one who is in the top 20 is Queen (who is also the youngest at 20) and there is only one who is older than RJ would be next year (Raynaud, 24).

If you look at the rest of the draft from 38-59, there are only 6 players who are at or above what RJ's age would be next year (Watkins, #38, Tonje #42, Dixon #45, Goldin #50, Lahkin #53, Peavy #58).

Bottom line is that RJ at 23.5 is unlikely to be a better draft prospect than RJ at 22.5 because he is already older than 52 of the 59 players in the draft and with two exceptions coming in at #24 and #39 everyone else that age is basically where he is now - bottom half of the second round.

Understand it seems counterintuitive to old dogs (or old foxes) that 22.5 or 23.5 is "old" but from an NBA perspective once you pass 20 they lose interest pretty quickly.

But completely agree (as I said previously) that they don't always get it right.
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I don’t know if you think Zuby will be a NBA prospect next session ?

He will be 22 on April 4, 2026 . Knecht last year at 24 was a 1st round pick .

I would also be curious to know how many of the 1st round NBA draftees as 18,19 or 20 years old actually ever justify their status as stars in the NBA ?

You figure the 18 year and 19 year olds will
hardly need their uniforms cleaned after a year .

Except maybe the splinters on their back sides.
As said previously , there many players who have NBA ability but , never get the chance to play .
Because all the team money is tired up with the 18, 19 year olds .

I didn’ t look but , how old is Dixon ? Johni Bloom?
They may be 1 st or 2 nd round but , I don’t think they are NBA players , even if drafted .
 
SLYFOXX1968 said:
I don’t know if you think Zuby will be a NBA prospect next session ?

He will be 22 on April 4, 2026 . Knecht last year at 24 was a 1st round pick .

I would also be curious to know how many of the 1st round NBA draftees as 18,19 or 20 years old actually ever justify their status as stars in the NBA ?

You figure the 18 year and 19 year olds will
hardly need their uniforms cleaned after a year .

Except maybe the splinters on their back sides.
As said previously , there many players who have NBA ability but , never get the chance to play .
Because all the team money is tired up with the 18, 19 year olds .

I didn’ t look but , how old is Dixon ? Johni Bloom?
They may be 1 st or 2 nd round but , I don’t think they are NBA players , even if drafted .
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Bloom & Dixon are slated mid to late second round in most mocks. I watch the NBA a lot and LMF is correct that once you get beyond 21 or 22 your odds of getting drafted in the first round go way down.

Taking a look at the best team in the NBA (OKC) of their seven top rotation players 6 have been playing in the NBA since they were 21 or younger. The only exception is Alex Caruso, who went undrafted but has worked out a role as a valuable rotation guy off the bench who does all the little things and is in his 8th season. Gilgeous Alexander, the likely MVP, was 19 when he came into the league 7 years ago.
 
NCJohnnie said:
Bloom & Dixon are slated mid to late second round in most mocks. I watch the NBA a lot and LMF is correct that once you get beyond 21 or 22 your odds of getting drafted in the first round go way down.

Taking a look at the best team in the NBA (OKC) of their seven top rotation players 6 have been playing in the NBA since they were 21 or younger. The only exception is Alex Caruso, who went undrafted but has worked out a role as a valuable rotation guy off the bench who does all the little things and is in his 8th season. Gilgeous Alexander, the likely MVP, was 19 when he came into the league 7 years ago.
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I never watch the NBA . So I know nothing of Alexander you speak of . If he’s 26 now , did he sit the bench for how long ?
And , was he ready to play right away against the 25 and older NBA players ?

If was he able to play right away , why doesn’t the League let them play right out of high school , like they did years ago ?

College BB has become a mockery with the NIIl and portal allowances , why make it more so by having schools chase after the 1 and dones ?
I understand NIL but , it’s out of control and the portal makes it worse
 
SLYFOXX1968 said:
I never watch the NBA . So I know nothing of Alexander you speak of . If he’s 26 now , did he sit the bench for how long ?
And , was he ready to play right away against the 25 and older NBA players ?

If was he able to play right away , why doesn’t the League let them play right out of high school , like they did years ago ?

College BB has become a mockery with the NIIl and portal allowances , why make it more so by having schools chase after the 1 and dones ?
I understand NIL but , it’s out of control and the portal makes it worse
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Not going to go down a rabbit hole on NBA eligibility and take yet another thread off track but to answer your question on Gilgeous Alexander he played 27 mpg and averaged 11 ppg his first year and has been a star and 20 ppg scorer and excellent assist guy since his second year.
 
He is also the MVP this year in case Slyfoxx was being serious. You think the clips regret trading him and 5 first rounders for Paul George? Lol
 
SLYFOXX1968 said:
I never watch the NBA . So I know nothing of Alexander you speak of
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No offense but if you watch no NBA games and you have no idea who THE MVP OF THE LEAGUE IS then why venture an opinion about where RJ should be on draft lists?

Suffice to say that the 19 and 20 year olds who get drafted are often (but not always) effective players in Year 1 and by Year 3 when they are 22 or 23 years old are stars.

The few 23 and 24 year olds who get drafted are almost invariably role players or don't stick it all, although there are exceptions to that.
 
SLYFOXX1968 said:
I never watch the NBA . So I know nothing of Alexander you speak of . If he’s 26 now , did he sit the bench for how long ?
And , was he ready to play right away against the 25 and older NBA players ?

If was he able to play right away , why doesn’t the League let them play right out of high school , like they did years ago ?

College BB has become a mockery with the NIIl and portal allowances , why make it more so by having schools chase after the 1 and dones ?
I understand NIL but , it’s out of control and the portal makes it worse
Click to expand...
While we are all amateurs on this Site when it comes to evaluating players and what the NBA looks for, I am sorry but your first sentence basically disqualifies you from arguing anything about RJ’s draft status and I barely watch the NBA. I can only go by what the being reported the NBA folks are saying and just basic observations on players game and how it might project in my limited knowledge of the NBA.

As for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he was only the NBA MVP this year who has averaged double figures in scoring every year in the MBA and more than 19 since his first year. For College reference, played at Kentucky.
 
www.nytimes.com

2025 NBA mock draft: After Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, the intrigue begins

With two weeks to go before the draft, which prospects are rising and falling — and which teams might swing a trade?
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

Good sign for RJ getting drafted if he's in this mock, considering the guy called his decision to remain in a wild decision. He does do his mocks with sources from NBA people.

Also saw him in this one recently:
sports.yahoo.com

NBA Mock Draft 4.0: The latest first-round projections, plus a trade that could shake up the lottery

Could we see a lot of movement on draft night? Here's how the first round is shaping up with only two weeks to go.
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
 
dk423 said:
www.nytimes.com

2025 NBA mock draft: After Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, the intrigue begins

With two weeks to go before the draft, which prospects are rising and falling — and which teams might swing a trade?
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

Good sign for RJ getting drafted if he's in this mock, considering the guy called his decision to remain in a wild decision. He does do his mocks with sources from NBA people.

Also saw him in this one recently:
sports.yahoo.com

NBA Mock Draft 4.0: The latest first-round projections, plus a trade that could shake up the lottery

Could we see a lot of movement on draft night? Here's how the first round is shaping up with only two weeks to go.
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
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I've seen a bunch now with "mocks" having him going to various teams in the second round. Which I get, because with his athleticism and potential upside at his size he seems worthy of a second round flier a team invests in.
 
hardytime said:
I've seen a bunch now with "mocks" having him going to various teams in the second round. Which I get, because with his athleticism and potential upside at his size he seems worthy of a second round flier a team invests in.
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And I’m sure that Kadary and Aaron will be “priority” UDFA for a number of teams because of their size and basketball acumen. Deivon will also get some serious UDFA consideration because of his tremendous athleticism.
It’s pretty clear that all three played “hurt” during the end of the season. The 4 of those great Johnnies (of course including RJ) will continue to represent and make us all proud.
 
dk423 said:
Dixon is actually barely taller than him. Randle's only 6'7.75" without shoes, and Dixon is 6'8".

Randle is much stronger and agile than him though, which is why I again don't think of Dixon as much of a NBA prospect
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I like Dixon as a college player. Liken him to Sweeney who the Knicks drafted. Terrific college player could not do same in pros. But Dixon will earn basketball money somewhere.
 
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