After splitting its draft into two days for the first time in 2024, the NBA confirmed today (via Twitter) that it will use the same format for its 2025 event.
According to the league, the dates for the 2025 NBA draft are as follows:
- Wednesday, June 25 (8:00 pm ET): Round one
- Thursday, June 26 (8:00 pm ET): Round two
As usual, the event will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
After long having held the draft on a single night, the NBA and NBPA decided last year to make it a two-day affair in order to give its teams, broadcast partners, and incoming players more time – and a bigger spotlight – in the second round.
During single-night drafts, that second round typically began late in the evening on the East Coast, then flew by because teams only had two minutes to make their picks — each year, a number of those picks were made while ESPN’s broadcast was on a commercial break. It was also often difficult to track which teams owned which picks, with teams trading second-rounders more frequently than first-rounders.
In the new format, teams have four minutes per pick in the second round, only slightly less than the five minutes per pick in round one.
Gotta get those commercials in!
I thought it would be a good change last year, but ESPN’s coverage of the second round was horrible. Multiple picks were still made during commercials. Some were even made during the coverage, but ignored because they were too busy talking about Bronny. Which leads me to the commentators. Please no Stephen A. Jonathan Givony is fine for the international prospects, but Jay Bilas is way better for the college kids. They need him back for night two. Hopefully it’s better this year, but it’s ESPN so I won’t bet on it.
Anything on ESPN is gonna have Stephen A plastered all over it and talking about whatever it is for hours before during and after it sadly.
Hey I have an idea, how about not allowing teams to go over the clock. Once the five minutes is up, the commissioner is out on stage. We should not be seeing “the pick is in” for five minutes after the clock already counted down. Teams should have second/third/fourth options ready to go if their guy gets picked. You have months to decide this. Quit wasting everybody’s time
The teams always get their picks in within its allotted time — the delays are generally on the NBA/ESPN side for broadcast purposes.
It’s all garbage commercials paying to be covered better than the league. Jokic will be remembered as a taco bell ad for when he was drafted.
You do know that the picks are not only selected before the clock ends but they also find their way to Woj/Shams before Adam Silver is even out on the stage? Sometimes they are a whole pick ahead!
Honestly, huge W I just didnt enjoy showing second rounders at their house. Like I dont care that much
Last draft I watched was 2013 to see where Oladipo got drafted then I turned it off and I haven’t watched an NBA games since 2020. Because they say the same thing he’s sneaky fast he can jump out of the gym. He’s freakishly athletic can see the whole court, a streaky shooter and a rim protector.
Needs to be also shown live on NBATV with it’s own crew live to and rotated the site every year like the other Sports. Also jump right from High School back and in NFL one jump from High School to.