2025 NBA Draft: Top 10 Power Forwards

The 2025 NBA Draft energy ahead class is headlined by Cooper Flagg, a generational prospect and the consensus high participant within the draft. Behind him, the group is strong and well-rounded, with 5 projected first rounders who all carry lottery upside. A number of extra energy forwards within the second spherical vary convey actual intrigue as developmental bets. This class provides a powerful mixture of dimension, athleticism, and flexibility, with gamers who can defend a number of positions, stretch the ground, and match into fashionable NBA schemes. With Flagg headlining the group, the general depth on the place makes it one of many stronger positions within the draft.

Flagg enters the draft because the clear No. 1 prospect, a 6’9” Swiss-army ahead with a 7-foot wingspan, elite motor, and uncommon two-way playmaking. His sport blends superior really feel with explosive, fluid athleticism. He initiates offense off the glass, punishes defenses as a roll man or cutter, and already reads the ground like a veteran with a 4.1 help to 2.6 turnover ratio. Defensively, he’s a sideline-to-sideline menace who switches, erases photographs on the rim, and jumps passing lanes whereas setting the tone with relentless competitiveness. The jumper at 35 p.c from three and 80 p.c from the free throw line suggests long-term vary, and he’s snug rising into mid-range pull-ups or popping for threes. Some debate whether or not he’s a real wing or a contemporary 4, however in at present’s positionless NBA these strains are blurred and Flagg’s versatility is a energy. Like Jayson Tatum, search for Flagg to evolve right into a modern-day 4 who can anchor each ends of the ground. Nonetheless simply 18 and having led Duke in each main class, he tasks as a franchise cornerstone with versatile scoring, high-level passing, and defensive influence that offers him reputable celebrity upside. He may additionally inject new life right into a league the place a lot of its most marketable stars are coming into the twilight of their careers. In Dallas’s case, lucking into Flagg after a extremely questionable choice to maneuver Dončić serves as a reminder that generally it’s higher to be fortunate than good.

2. Noa EssengueSF/PF France InternationalAge: 18.5 | Peak (barefoot): 6′9.00″ | Wingspan: 6′11.00″ | Weight: 198 lbsStanding Attain: 9′3.25″ | Max Vert: 35.5″2024–25 Stats (BBL): 9.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, ~45% FG, ~25% 3PT, ~62% FT

Essengue is an extended, athletic ahead with defensive versatility, intriguing bodily instruments, and rising confidence for Ratiopharm Ulm. Nonetheless simply 18 years outdated, he’s held his personal in each EuroCup and German BBL play, flashing switchability, lively palms, and the sort of upside that interprets nicely to NBA defensive schemes. Offensively, he’s a straight-line driver, opportunistic cutter, and transition finisher with some mushy contact and glimpses of a growing face-up sport. He’s additionally an intriguing ball handler for his dimension, exhibiting flashes of coordination and management in house. His shot stays the swing talent, however there have been indicators of actual enchancment towards the tip of the season underneath professional instruction. His standing attain (9′3+) permits him to play greater than his listed dimension, giving him defensive versatility throughout the frontcourt. That mentioned, his half-court offense stays restricted. The shot remains to be coming alongside and he’s not but a dependable creator. Nonetheless, Essengue tasks as a high-floor, vitality huge who can influence video games with protection, exercise, and sensible motion, with upside to develop if the jumper and talent stage proceed to develop.

Newell is a springy left-handed 4 who pairs high-end run-jump athleticism with an more and more polished offensive talent set. A product of powerhouse Montverde Academy, he flashed stretch-four potential at Georgia, hitting 26 threes and exhibiting easy mechanics on pick-and-pop jumpers whereas additionally punishing the rim as a lob goal, transition finisher, and second-jump tip-dunker. His face-up quickness and mushy contact yielded 15.4 PPG within the rugged SEC, highlighted by back-to-back 20-point efforts versus Oklahoma and Gonzaga to shut the 12 months. Defensively he covers floor, slides on switches, and piles up blocks and steals together with his 6′11″ size and timing, hinting at multi-positional upside. The swing components are energy and consistency: he nonetheless shies from contact inside, is a below-average defensive rebounder for his dimension, and his 29 p.c three-point clip underscores the work left on his jumper. That mentioned, his capturing is likely to be higher than marketed, as his mechanics are fluid and he exhibits confidence pulling up, which suggests actual room for progress. Including muscle and refining pick-and-roll reads shall be key to unlocking a contemporary stretch-big ceiling, however Newell’s mixture of motor, raise, and budding capturing contact provides him late-lottery to mid-first intrigue as a high-energy, versatile ahead with room to develop.

4. Rasheer FlemingPF/C St. Joseph’s Jr.Age: 20.9 | Peak (barefoot): 6′8.25″ | Wingspan: 7′5.25″ | Weight: 232.4 lbsStanding Attain: 9′1.00″ | No-Step Vert: 27.0″ | Max Vert: 32.5″2024–25 Stats: 13.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.5 BPG, 1.4 SPG, 47.5% FG, 39.0% 3PT, 70.2% FT

Fleming is likely one of the largest risers within the 2025 class due to his elite bodily profile, defensive exercise, and a significant leap as a floor-spacing ahead. With a 7′5″ wingspan and agile body, he excels as a high-motor rebounder, rim protector, and versatile defender who can swap, contest, and disrupt throughout positions. Offensively, he reworked from a uncooked athlete into among the best stretch bigs within the nation, flattening 62 threes at a 39 p.c clip and flashing actual consolation popping off screens or trailing in transition. He brings uncommon two-way versatility as a contemporary 4 or small-ball 5, combining shot-blocking, perimeter capturing, and high-level effort. Nevertheless, his offensive sport nonetheless leans closely on others to create for him. He’s restricted off the bounce, can drift off-ball, and infrequently forces robust passes or photographs. His capturing progress and uncommon size are plain instruments, however the mixture of mid main competitors and inconsistency make him extra of a growth or bust swing. Nonetheless, Fleming’s defensive versatility and improved jumper give him sturdy rotational worth, and if he continues trending upward, he may carve out a long-term function as an vitality huge with each spacing and shot-altering capability. Placing Fleming over CMB goes out on a limb, however we’re superb with rolling the cube right here. State of affairs would be the key.

5. Collin Murray-BoylesPF/C South Carolina So.Age: 20.0 | Peak (barefoot): 6′6.50″ | Wingspan: 7′0.75″ | Weight: 239.2 lbsStanding Attain: 8′10.00″ | No-Step Vert: 29.5″ | Max Vert: 34.5″2024–25 Stats: 16.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 55.2% FG, 26.5% 3PT, 70.7% FT

Murray-Boyles is a tricky, undersized huge with an old-school sport, spectacular manufacturing, and an intriguing mix of energy, really feel, and flexibility. He performs with an edge, prepared to scrap inside, defend a number of positions, and blend it up on each ends. Although simply 6’6.5″ barefoot, he offsets his tweener dimension with a close to 7’1″ wingspan, huge palms that allow him management the ball like a seven-footer, wonderful anticipation, and notable energy. He was extremely productive as a freshman and brings sturdy perception in himself together with clear dedication. He’s additionally leveraged frequent Draymond Inexperienced comparisons right into a lofty draft projection. Offensively he thrives within the mid-post and brief roll, utilizing contact, footwork, and imaginative and prescient to attain or discover cutters, and is snug driving from the perimeter, ending effectively on the rim the place most of his makes an attempt come. One of many extra inventive passing forwards within the class, he brings a high-motor, profitable mentality. Issues about NBA translation stay: he lacks vertical pop, lateral quickness, and out of doors capturing contact. His jumper is a piece in progress at 26.5 p.c from three, and he turns into turnover-prone when compelled into heavy creation. Whereas his statistical output and toughness are plain, his long-term function hinges on enhancing his capturing effectivity and defending in opposition to NBA velocity. He presently tasks as a utility ahead or small-ball huge whose area of interest may increase if his general talent set continues to develop.

6. Bogoljub MarkovicPF Serbia (Mega MIS Belgrade)Age: 19.9 | Peak (barefoot): 6′11″ | Wingspan: 7′0″ | Weight: 212 lbsStanding Attain: 8′11.75″ | No-Step Vert: N/A | Max Vert: N/A2024–25 ABA Stats: 13.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.8 BPG, 53.8% FG, 37.0% 3PT, 61.2% FT

Marković is a talented 6-11 stretch-four who pairs easy capturing mechanics with uncommon grab-and-go polish for a young person, incomes ABA League Prime Prospect honors whereas anchoring Mega MIS’s frontcourt. Offensively, he thrives in pick-and-pop and path conditions, knocks down 37 p.c of his threes with a clear excessive launch, and flashes superior imaginative and prescient (2.7 APG) to search out cutters out of the publish. He runs the ground fluidly, exhibits finesse on face-ups and floaters, and makes use of his 8′11¾″ attain to complete with contact across the rim. A lightweight-hearted character off the court docket, Marković brings a aggressive edge in video games, and his constant capturing mechanics mirror the hours he’s invested in talent growth. Defensively, his size and timing provide weak-side shot-blocking upside, however a lean 212-pound body and common lateral burst depart him susceptible to bodily publish scorers and fast switches. Power, rebounding toughness, and foul self-discipline stay swing areas, as he’s liable to being got rid of his spots (3.0 FPG) and might coast when his utilization dips. If the physique fills out and the discharge hurries up, Marković tasks as a contemporary floor-spacing 4/5 who can move, stretch, and defend in house—an attractive mid-to-late-first upside play for groups betting on long-term growth.

Broome is a productive, high-IQ inside anchor whose energy, contact, and timing allowed him to dominate SEC play, however questions linger about how his below-the-rim type interprets to at present’s NBA. A dependable publish scorer with artful footwork and various hooks, he additionally punished the glass for 3.7 offensive boards an evening and guarded the rim with disciplined positioning and a pair of+ blocks in every of his 5 faculty seasons. He’s flashed short-roll reads and the occasional face-up drive, but his sluggish capturing mechanics (28% from three, 59% FT) and restricted raise cap his spacing worth and ending upside in opposition to NBA size. Lateral quickness is one other swing issue: he excels in drop protection however might wrestle on switches. At almost 23, Broome tasks as a plug-and-play reserve huge whose ground comes from rebounding, publish offense, and paint protection. Unlocking a stretch component or faster ft would decide whether or not he’s greater than a sturdy second-unit middle. May hear his title within the first third of the second spherical.

Thiero is an athletic hybrid ahead who brings vitality, defensive instruments, and straight-line slashing worth with room to develop as a task participant. He impressed at Arkansas together with his exercise and toughness, averaging 15.1 factors and 1.6 steals per sport whereas persistently outclassing lesser athletes together with his velocity and physicality. Measured with a 7-foot wingspan and robust 218-pound body, Thiero excels at protecting floor defensively, producing deflections, and changing in transition. He’s a bodily cutter and slasher who makes probably the most of his athletic instruments, and whereas he’s a bit small for a conventional 4, his explosiveness and motor assist bridge the hole. There’s some combo ahead intrigue if his playmaking continues to develop, however the capturing stays a transparent space of want. His regression from deep (25.6% from three, 68.6% FT) and restricted ball expertise elevate actual questions on his long-term offensive match. Whereas he doesn’t profile as a ground spacer or halfcourt creator, he performs with goal and edge, traits that give him a pathway to stay within the NBA as a low-usage defender and vitality wing if the shot comes round.

Dixon is a productive, bodily sturdy stretch ahead who led the nation in scoring, made all of the extra spectacular by doing so in a high-major convention, and put collectively probably the most spectacular offensive seasons in faculty basketball. A fifth-year senior at Villanova, he averaged 23.3 factors per sport whereas capturing over 40% from three on 253 makes an attempt, showcasing reputable floor-spacing capability at 260 kilos. His thick body permits him to soak up contact and rating within the paint, however he’s equally snug working as a face-up scorer or pick-and-pop weapon. Good, skilled, and difficult, Dixon has the offensive IQ to thrive in structured techniques and the motor to compete on the boards and draw fouls. That mentioned, he’s one of many oldest prospects within the draft and lacks perfect athleticism, with restricted lateral quickness, below-the-rim ending, and minimal defensive versatility. He tasks extra as a plug-and-play stretch 4 than a developmental piece, with clear limitations guarding in house or switching onto faster wings. Nonetheless, for groups in want of frontcourt capturing, energy, and maturity, Dixon may carve out a worthwhile rotational function early in his profession.

10. Mohamed Diawara 6-9 223 SF/PF France 2005Age: 20.3 | Peak (barefoot): 6′7.0″* | Wingspan: 7′4.00″ | Weight: 223 lbsStanding Attain: 9′2.25″ | No-Step Vert: 28.3″ | Max Vert: 35.8″2024–25 Stats (Cholet, LNB Élite): 5.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 31.0% 3PT, 48.8% FT

An enormous-time athlete with a prototype modern-forward body, Diawara flashes the size, mobility, and leaping capability NBA groups covet on the wing. He covers floor effortlessly, switches throughout a number of positions, and disrupts passing lanes together with his wingspan and anticipation. Offensively, he’s nonetheless studying the nuances of the sport, however his instruments are starting to indicate flashes, notably as a slasher and lob finisher. He’s additionally an excellent passer for his place. His capturing stays inconsistent, although he’s proven progress as a catch-and-shoot possibility from the corners. The free-throw line stays a purple flag, nonetheless, as he transformed simply 48.8% of his makes an attempt throughout the season. Diawara’s deal with and processing velocity want refinement, and he can wrestle to make fast reads underneath strain. Nonetheless, his time with Cholet in France’s high league gave him worthwhile reps in opposition to professionals, averaging 5.8 factors and three.1 rebounds in underneath 20 minutes per sport. Together with his defensive versatility, excessive motor, passing flashes, and long-term bodily instruments, he stays an intriguing late-second-round swing or precedence UDFA. If the basics proceed to enhance, he has the framework to turn into a switchable, vitality wing with two-way influence potential.