Hoops Rumors Originals

Players Eligible For Rookie Scale Extensions In 2025

After the NBA’s 2025/26 league year begins this summer and the July moratorium ends, players eligible for free agency will be able to begin officially finalizing contract agreements with suitors. In addition to those free agents, another group of players will also become eligible to sign new deals.

For players who are entering the fourth and final year of their rookie scale contracts, the first day of the new league year (July 1) is the first day they can agree to rookie scale extensions. Those players, who were all 2022 first-round selections, will have until the day before the 2025/26 regular season starts to finalize long-term agreements with their current teams.

Players eligible for rookie scale extensions can sign new deals that run for up to five years, with those contracts taking effect beginning in 2026/27. If they don’t sign extensions during the coming offseason, those players will be eligible for restricted free agency in the summer of 2026.

Eleven players who were eligible for rookie scale extensions during the 2024 offseason signed new deals, continuing a recent trend. We’ve seen an uptick in rookie extensions during the last several offseasons as more teams look to lock up their promising young players in advance of free agency. Since 2020, at least 10 players have signed rookie extensions every year, topping out at a record-setting 14 in 2023.

We should expect several more rookie scale extensions to be signed between July and October of this year.


Here are the players who will be eligible to sign rookie scale extensions during the 2025 offseason:


The following players were selected in the first round of the 2022 draft along with the players listed above. However, they aren’t eligible for rookie scale extensions this year for the reasons noted:

  • Patrick Baldwin: Fourth-year option declined by Wizards in 2024; waived in 2025.
  • MarJon Beauchamp: Fourth-year option declined by Bucks in 2024; waived in 2025.
  • Johnny Davis: Fourth-year option declined by Wizards in 2024; waived in 2025.
  • AJ Griffin: Waived by Rockets in 2024.
  • Jake LaRavia: Fourth-year option declined by Grizzlies in 2024.
  • Wendell Moore: Fourth-year option declined by Pistons in 2024; waived in 2025.
  • David Roddy: Fourth-year option declined by Hawks in 2024; waived in 2025.
  • TyTy Washington: Waived by Thunder in 2023.

NBA Team Option Decisions For 2025/26

Having already created a space to track this offseason’s player option decisions, we’re turning our attention today to team options. Over the next couple months, we’ll use the space below to keep tabs on all the team options for 2025/26, making note of whether they’re exercised or declined.

True team options are different than non-guaranteed salaries, which aren’t listed in the space below. Non-guaranteed salaries are less restrictive and provide a little more flexibility than team options, which clubs must act upon by a specific date (June 29) each year.

However, team options can be useful at the end of a contract, since turning down that option allows the team to retain some form of Bird rights on the player — waiving a player with a non-guaranteed salary doesn’t present that same opportunity. Additionally, a handful of contracts still don’t become fully guaranteed once an option is picked up, giving teams an extra level of flexibility.

The list below doesn’t include rookie scale team options for 2025/26, since those third- and fourth-year options function differently than team options on standard veteran contracts. Those ’25/26 rookie scale team option decisions were made during the 2024 offseason, and can be found here.

The standard team options for 2025/26 are listed below. This list – which can be found anytime under the “Hoops Rumors Features” menu on the right sidebar on our desktop site or on the “Features” page in our mobile menu – will be updated throughout to note the latest decisions as they’re reported and/or announced.

Unless otherwise indicated, a player’s salary will become guaranteed once his team option is exercised.


Atlanta Hawks

Boston Celtics

  • JD Davison ($2,270,735)
    • If Davison’s option is exercised, his salary would remain non-guaranteed.

Brooklyn Nets

  • Keon Johnson ($2,349,578)
    • If Johnson’s option is exercised, his salary would be partially guaranteed for $271,614.
  • Jalen Wilson ($2,221,677)
    • If Wilson’s option is exercised, his salary would be partially guaranteed for $88,075.
  • Tyrese Martin ($2,191,897)
    • If Martin’s option is exercised, his salary would remain non-guaranteed.
  • Drew Timme ($1,955,377)
    • If Timme’s option is exercised, his salary would remain non-guaranteed.

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Chuma Okeke ($2,546,675)
    • Note: If Okeke’s option is exercised, his salary would remain non-guaranteed.

Golden State Warriors

  • Gui Santos ($2,221,677)
    • Note: If Santos’ option is exercised, his salary would remain non-guaranteed.
  • Quinten Post ($1,955,377)

Houston Rockets

Indiana Pacers

Los Angeles Lakers

  • Jordan Goodwin ($2,349,578)
    • If Goodwin’s option is exercised, his salary would be partially guaranteed for $25,006.

Miami Heat

Minnesota Timberwolves

  • Luka Garza ($2,349,578)
  • Josh Minott ($2,187,699)
    • Note: If Minott’s option is exercised, his salary would remain non-guaranteed until June 28.

New Orleans Pelicans

New York Knicks

  • P.J. Tucker ($3,468,960)
    • Note: If Tucker’s option is exercised, his salary would remain non-guaranteed.
  • Ariel Hukporti ($1,955,377)
    • Note: If Hukporti’s option is exercised, his salary would remain non-guaranteed.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Orlando Magic

Philadelphia 76ers

Phoenix Suns

Portland Trail Blazers

  • Rayan Rupert ($2,221,677)
    • Note: If Rupert’s option is exercised, his salary would remain non-guaranteed until July 1.

Sacramento Kings

  • Keon Ellis ($2,301,587)
    • Note: If Ellis’ option is exercised, his salary would remain non-guaranteed.
  • Isaac Jones ($1,955,377)

NBA Player Option Decisions For 2025/26

A number of NBA contracts include player options in the final year. Those option years give the player the opportunity to either opt into the last year of his deal and finish out his contract or to decline the option and hit the free agent market a year early.

Several factors play a part in a player’s option decision. The value of the option salary is obviously crucial, as is the player’s performance in the season leading up to his decision.

The state of the NBA’s salary cap also often becomes a necessary consideration for players weighing their decisions. If the salary cap is projected to increase only modestly, or if not many teams around the league project to have cap room, a player may be more inclined to take the guaranteed money rather than trying his luck on the open market.

This year’s player options are listed below. This list – which can be found anytime under the “Hoops Rumors Features” menu on the right sidebar on our desktop site or on the “Features” page in our mobile menu – will be updated throughout the spring and early summer to note the latest decisions as they’re reported or announced.

While some players may face earlier deadlines, all option decisions must be finalized by June 29.


Chicago Bulls

Dallas Mavericks

Denver Nuggets

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers

Miami Heat

  • Duncan Robinson ($19,888,000)
    • Note: Robinson’s option is technically an early termination option.
    • Note: If Robinson opts in, his salary will be partially guaranteed for $9,888,000.

Milwaukee Bucks

Minnesota Timberwolves

Philadelphia 76ers

Portland Trail Blazers

Utah Jazz

Washington Wizards

Super-Max/Rose Rule Candidates To Watch After Mobley Cashed In

As we detailed on Thursday within our story about Evan Mobley earning Defensive Player of the Year honors, the award represented a major financial boon for the Cavaliers big man, who significantly increased the value of his contract extension by virtue of being named this season’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Mobley signed a five-year, maximum-salary rookie scale extension last summer that included Rose Rule language. The Rose Rule allows a player and team to negotiate a maximum salary worth up to 30% of the cap (instead of the usual 25%) for a player with just four years of NBA experience if he makes an All-NBA team or wins the MVP or DPOY award.

Interestingly, Mobley’s rookie scale extension would’ve started at 27.5% of the cap in 2025/26 if he had made the All-NBA third team (instead of one of the first two teams) and hadn’t won Defensive Player of the Year.

Now that he has received DPOY recognition, it will instead start at 30%.

Here are the three scenarios that had been in play for Mobley, based on a projected 10% cap increase:

Year 25% of cap 27.5% of cap 30% of cap
2025/26 $38,661,750 $42,527,925 $46,394,100
2026/27 $41,754,690 $45,930,159 $50,105,628
2027/28 $44,847,630 $49,332,393 $53,817,156
2028/29 $47,940,570 $52,734,627 $57,528,684
2029/30 $51,033,510 $56,136,861 $61,240,212
Total $224,238,150 $246,661,965 $269,085,780

Mobley cashed in with his DPOY win, locking in a contract that projects to be worth in excess of $269MM over the next five seasons. Are there any other players who could join him by earning All-NBA nods this spring?

There’s only really one other guy who entered award season in the same boat as Mobley, waiting to see if his rookie scale extension worth 25% of the cap will increase to 30% of the cap. That player is Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham.

Cunningham looks like a pretty safe bet to be included on one of the All-NBA teams for 2024/25, and unlike Mobley, his contract doesn’t include any variable rates between 25% and 30% depending on which All-NBA team he makes. If Cunningham is a third-teamer, that would still be enough to bump his ’25/26 salary to 30% of the cap, matching Mobley’s deal.

Two other players signed Rose Rule extensions last offseason, but Magic forward Franz Wagner didn’t appear in enough games to qualify for All-NBA consideration and Raptors forward Scottie Barnes isn’t a serious candidate for the honor — their new contracts will start at 25% of next season’s cap.

There’s one other player to watch for potential super-max candidacy though — Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. would become eligible for a super-max (ie. “designated veteran“) contract extension worth up to 35% of the cap if he’s one of this season’s 15 All-NBA players. He looks like a solid bet to make the cut after serving as Memphis’ most reliable offensive weapon and earning DPOY votes.

If Jackson earns an All-NBA spot, the Grizzlies would have three options when they enter extension talks with him this offseason:

  1. They could offer him a raise of up to 40% off his current contract, but that likely wouldn’t be enough to get a deal done, since his salary in the final year of his current deal in 2025/26 is just $23.4MM, a relatively modest figure for an All-NBA caliber player.
  2. They could use cap room to renegotiate his ’25/26 salary in order to give him a raise and then extend him off of that figure. This is a legitimate option, given that the Grizzlies are in position to potentially carve out a little cap room.
  3. They could sign him to a super-max extension that starts anywhere between 30% and 35% of the cap. Although it’s typical for players who sign super-max deals to get the full 35%, a team doesn’t necessarily need to go that high — when Utah extended Rudy Gobert after he became super-max eligible with a Defensive Player of the Year win, for instance, his deal started at a little over 31% of the cap.

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will also be eligible to sign a super-max contract extension this offseason — that would still be the case even if he doesn’t win this season’s MVP award or make an All-NBA team (he’ll almost certainly do both), since he achieved the performance criteria a year ago.

The Rose Rule and super-max performance criteria call for a player to earn All-NBA, MVP, or DPOY recognition in either the  preceding season or in two of the three preceding seasons, so Gilgeous-Alexander got there by making All-NBA teams in 2023 and 2024, even though he wouldn’t have enough years of service to sign his new deal until 2025.

No other stars are in position to meet that two-in-three-years criteria early this spring, like Gilgeous-Alexander did last year.

A player like Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, for example, is on track to make his second straight All-NBA team, but won’t meet the years-of-service criteria for a super-max extension until 2027. That means that even if he earns an All-NBA spot this year, Edwards will have to do so again in either 2026 or 2027 to be eligible to sign that deal in ’27, since the 2024 nod won’t be counted within the preceding three seasons at that time.

We’re likely still a few weeks away from learning this year’s full All-NBA results. A year ago, the league announced those teams on May 22.

Key 2025 NBA Offseason Dates, Deadlines

With the 2024/25 NBA regular season in the books, nearly half of the league’s teams have shifted their focus to the offseason and others will soon follow suit.

That means it’s time to retire our list of the NBA’s key in-season dates and deadlines for the ’24/25 campaign in favor of an updated offseason calendar of the most important dates facing teams and players in the coming months.

In the space below, you’ll find a breakdown of many of the NBA’s important dates and deadlines for the next few months, right up until training camps open for the 2025/26 season.


April 26

  • Deadline for early entrants to declare for the NBA draft (10:59 pm CT).
    • Note: For more information on draft-related dates and deadlines, check out our full breakdown.

May 9-11

  • NBA G League combine.

May 12

May 11-18

  • NBA draft combine.

May 28

  • Last day for early entrants to withdraw from the NBA draft and retain their NCAA eligibility (10:59 pm CT).

June 5

  • NBA Finals begin.

June 15

  • Deadline for all early entrants (including international players) to withdraw from the NBA draft (4:00 pm CT).

June 22

  • Latest possible end date for NBA Finals.

TBD (first day after NBA Finals)

  • Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents.

June 25

  • Day one of NBA draft (first round).

June 26

  • Day two of NBA draft (second round).

June 29

  • Last day for decisions on player, team, and early termination options
    • Note: Certain contracts will require earlier decisions.
  • Last day for teams to make qualifying offers to players eligible for restricted free agency.

June 30

  • Last official day of the 2024/25 NBA league year.
  • Last day for players eligible for veteran extensions in 2024/25 to sign them.
  • Teams can begin negotiating with free agents from other clubs (5:00 pm CT).

July 1

  • Official start of the 2025/26 NBA league year.
  • Moratorium period begins.
  • Restricted free agents can sign an offer sheet.
  • Teams can begin signing players to one- or two-year minimum-salary contracts.
  • Teams can begin signing players to two-way contracts.
  • Teams can begin signing first-round picks to rookie scale contracts.
  • Teams can begin signing second-round picks using the second-round pick exception.
  • Teams can begin exercising the third- or fourth-year team options for 2026/27 on rookie scale contracts.

July 6

  • Moratorium period ends (11:01 am CT).
  • Teams can begin officially signing players, extending players, and completing trades (11:01 am CT).
  • The 24-hour period for matching an RFA offer sheet signed during the moratorium begins (11:01 am CT).

July 10-20

  • Las Vegas Summer League.

July 13

  • Last day for teams to unilaterally withdraw qualifying offers to restricted free agents.

July 31

  • Players signed using the second-round pick exception begin to count against a team’s cap.

August 5

  • Last day for teams to issue required tenders to unsigned second-round picks.

August 29

  • Last day for teams to waive players and apply the stretch provision to their 2025/26 salaries.

Late September (specific dates TBA)

  • Training camps open.

Information from NBA.com was used in the creation of this post.

Community Shootaround: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Future

Through the first two games of the Bucks‘ first-round series vs. Indiana, Most Valuable Player finalist Giannis Antetokounmpo has put up absolutely massive numbers, including averages of 35.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per night on 65.1% shooting.

But he has gotten little help from his teammates in either game. Milwaukee has been outscored by 29 points when Antetokounmpo is on the floor and dropped both contests in Indiana. The Bucks are now heading back home facing a 2-0 deficit in the series.

In both 2023 and 2024, the Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the postseason without Antetokounmpo, who was unable to suit up due to injuries. With their star forward healthy and available this spring, the Bucks had higher expectations and haven’t given up on achieving them — the series is hardly out of reach if Milwaukee can defend its home court in Games 3 and 4.

However, the Pacers have looked like the better team so far, overwhelming the Bucks with their fast-paced offensive attack and creating a difficult hole for Milwaukee to climb out of.

Point guard Damian Lillard has only just returned from a month-long absence due to a blood clot in his calf and doesn’t look like he’s in peak form, while trade-deadline acquisition Kyle Kuzma hasn’t been particularly effective through two games, scoring just 12 total points on 5-of-15 shooting and grabbing three rebounds in 52 minutes of action.

As ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted on the latest episode of his Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), a third consecutive first-round exit would be a disaster for the Bucks, who posted their lowest regular season winning percentage (.585) since 2017/18, have been a taxpaying team for several years, and no longer have the assets to pursue major roster upgrades. It would also lead to serious scrutiny of Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee.

“Giannis has been just awesome this season,” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM). “He has clearly understood that they’re challenged. And he has cut the BS out of his game and cut the fat out of his game and tried doing everything he can to carry this team, and they’re just not good enough. What is he supposed to do?

“This is the elephant in the room in the league right now. This team is losing tens of millions of dollars. They’re out all their draft picks. (Brook) Lopez and (Bobby) Portis are free agents.”

Windhorst’s ESPN colleague Tim MacMahon followed up by describing the Bucks’ future as “bleak” and suggesting that Antetokounmpo may have to decide soon whether he wants to be a player who spends his entire career with one franchise or if he wants to move to a situation where he’d have a better chance to compete for more titles while he’s still in his prime.

Even if the Bucks are eliminated by the Pacers in the coming days, that decision doesn’t necessarily need to be made this summer. Antetokounmpo remains under contract with the Bucks for at least two more years, with a player option on his contract for the 2027/28 season. And Windhorst stresses that there’s no indication the two-time MVP is looking for an exit ramp.

“From talking to people in and around Milwaukee, Giannis has given no indication throughout this entire season that he is not 100% focused on maximizing what the Bucks have,” Windhorst said. “This (speculation) is people in the league looking at the lay of the land, not anything that Giannis has said to anybody.”

Still, it’s not uncommon for situations like this one involving star players to reach a head well before the player reaches free agency. “This is what people in the league are talking about as they’re watching these series,” Windhorst added.

The Nets, armed with significant cap flexibility and a huge collection of extra first-round picks, have made no secret of the fact that they’re prepared to make a major push for Antetokounmpo if the Bucks are open to considering a trade — reports for the better part of a year have indicated he’s Brooklyn’s “Plan A.” But they’d have plenty of company if Giannis ever ends up on the trade block.

We want to know what you think. Can the Bucks come back and win this first-round series vs. the Pacers? If not, will this offseason represent a tipping point for Antetokounmpo’s future or will he remain committed to Milwaukee going forward?

Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts on the outlook for Giannis.

2025 Pre-Lottery NBA Draft Order

The NBA conducted its draft tiebreakers on Monday, further cementing the draft order for 2025. While we’ll have to wait until the May 12 draft lottery to learn the exact order for this year’s event, we now know what most of the 59 selections look like.

Listed below is the pre-lottery 2025 NBA draft order. Each lottery team’s chances of landing the No. 1 overall pick is noted in parentheses. We’ve also included notes for picks whose status remains up in the air depending on the lottery results.

[RELATED: 2025 NBA Draft Lottery Odds]

The second-round draft order for teams with identical regular season records is the inverse of their first-round order. This rule applies even if one club made the playoffs and one didn’t.

We’ll provided an updated list after the May 12 lottery, once the official draft order is set, but here’s the tentative 2025 NBA draft order:


First round

  1. Utah Jazz (14.0%)
  2. Washington Wizards (14.0%)
  3. Charlotte Hornets (14.0%)
  4. New Orleans Pelicans (12.5%)
  5. Philadelphia 76ers (10.5%)
    • Note: The Thunder will receive this pick if it falls out of the top six (36.0%).
  6. Brooklyn Nets (9.0%)
  7. Toronto Raptors (7.5%)
  8. San Antonio Spurs (6.0%)
  9. Houston Rockets (from Suns) (3.8%)
  10. Portland Trail Blazers (3.7%)
  11. Dallas Mavericks (1.8%)
  12. Chicago Bulls (1.7%)
  13. Atlanta Hawks (from Kings) (0.8%)
    • Note: The Kings will retain this pick if it moves into the top four (3.8%).
  14. San Antonio Spurs (from Hawks) (0.7%)
  15. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Heat)
  16. Orlando Magic
  17. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Pistons)
  18. Washington Wizards (from Grizzlies)
  19. Brooklyn Nets (from Bucks)
  20. Miami Heat (from Warriors)
  21. Utah Jazz (from Timberwolves)
  22. Atlanta Hawks (from Lakers)
  23. Indiana Pacers
  24. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Clippers)
  25. Orlando Magic (from Nuggets)
  26. Brooklyn Nets (from Knicks)
  27. Brooklyn Nets (from Rockets)
  28. Boston Celtics
  29. Phoenix Suns (from Cavaliers)
  30. Los Angeles Clippers (from Thunder)

Second round

  1. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Jazz)
  2. Boston Celtics (from Wizards)
  3. Charlotte Hornets
  4. Charlotte Hornets (from Pelicans)
  5. Philadelphia 76ers
  6. Brooklyn Nets
  7. Detroit Pistons (from Raptors)
  8. San Antonio Spurs
  9. Toronto Raptors (from Trail Blazers)
    • Note: This pick would move to No. 40 if the Trail Blazers end up with a higher first-round pick than the Rockets (from Suns) via the lottery.
  10. Washington Wizards (from Suns)
    • Note: This pick would move to No. 39 if the Trail Blazers end up with a higher first-round pick than the Rockets (from Suns) via the lottery.
  11. Golden State Warriors (from Heat)
  12. Sacramento Kings (from Bulls)
    • Note: This pick would move to No. 43 if the Bulls end up with a higher first-round pick than the Mavericks via the lottery.
  13. Utah Jazz (from Mavericks)
    • Note: This pick would move to No. 42 if the Bulls end up with a higher first-round pick than the Mavericks via the lottery.
  14. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Hawks)
    • Note: This pick would move to No. 45 if the Spurs (from Hawks) end up with a higher first-round pick than the Hawks (from Kings) via the lottery.
  15. Chicago Bulls (from Kings)
    • Note: This pick would move to No. 44 if the Spurs (from Hawks) end up with a higher first-round pick than the Hawks (from Kings) via the lottery.
  16. Orlando Magic
  17. Milwaukee Bucks (from Pistons)
  18. Memphis Grizzlies (from Warriors)
  19. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Bucks)
  20. New York Knicks (from Grizzlies)
  21. Los Angeles Clippers (from Timberwolves)
  22. Phoenix Suns (from Nuggets)
  23. Utah Jazz (from Clippers)
  24. Indiana Pacers
  25. Los Angeles Lakers
  26. New York Knicks
  27. Memphis Grizzlies (from Rockets)
  28. Orlando Magic (from Celtics)
  29. Cleveland Cavaliers
  30. Houston Rockets (from Thunder)

2025 NBA Draft Lottery Odds

The NBA will be using its revamped lottery system for the seventh time this year. The format, instituted in 2019, smoothed out the odds for top picks, reducing the league’s worst team’s chance of getting the No. 1 selection from 25.0% to 14.0%.

[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: NBA Draft Lottery]

The changes had an immediate impact in 2019, when the Pelicans and Grizzlies were tied for the seventh-best lottery odds, but jumped up to No. 1 and 2, respectively, allowing them to land Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. There were fewer major surprises in subsequent years until 2024, when the Hawks entered lottery night with the 10th-best odds and came away with the first overall pick.

This year’s draft lottery will take place on Monday, May 12.

With the help of data from Tankathon.com – which is worth checking out for all sorts of draft-related info – the draft lottery odds for 2025 are listed in the chart below.

The numbers in the chart indicate percentages, so the Jazz‘s pick, for instance, has a 14% chance of becoming the No. 1 selection and a 47.9% chance of ending up at No. 5. If a team’s odds are listed as >0, that percentage is below 0.1%. Odds are rounded to the nearest decimal place.

Here’s the full chart:

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
UTH 14 13.4 12.7 12 47.9
WSH 14 13.4 12.7 12 27.8 20
CHA 14 13.4 12.7 12 14.8 26 7
NOP 12.5 12.2 11.9 11.5 7.2 25.7 16.8 2.2
PHI* 10.5 10.5 10.6 10.5 2.2 19.6 26.7 8.7 0.6
BKN 9 9.2 9.4 9.6 8.6 29.7 20.6 3.7 0.2
TOR 7.5 7.8 8.1 8.5 19.7 34.1 12.9 1.3 >0
SAS 6 6.3 6.7 7.2 34.5 32.0 6.8 0.4 >0
PHX* 3.8 4.1 4.5 4.9 50.7 28.3 3.5 0.1 >0
POR 3.7 4 4.4 4.8 63.4 18.5 1.2 >0 >0
DAL 1.8 2 2.2 2.5 77.6 13.5 0.5 >0
CHI 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.4 85.2 6.6 0.1
SAC* 0.8 0.9 1 1.1 92.9 3.3
ATL* 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 96.6

Notes:

  • The Sixers‘ pick will be sent to the Thunder if it lands outside the top six.
  • The Suns‘ pick will be sent to the Nets.
  • The Kings‘ pick will be sent to the Hawks if it lands outside the top 12.
  • The Hawks‘ pick will be sent to the Spurs.

The full pre-lottery 2025 draft order can be found right here.

2025 NBA Draft Early Entrants List

Early entrants who wish to declare for the 2025 NBA draft have until the end of the day on Saturday, April 26 to make that decision official.

Players who declare for the draft this year will have to withdraw by the end of the day on May 28 if they wish to retain their NCAA eligibility. The NBA’s withdrawal deadline, which is more relevant for international prospects, is on June 15 at 5:00 pm Eastern time. The 2025 draft, which will be extended to two days for the first time, will take place on June 25-26.

[RELATED: 2025 NBA Draft Dates, Deadlines To Watch]

Typically, the initial number of early entrants declaring for the draft is far bigger than the final total will be, since many players “test the draft waters” to get feedback on their stock before ultimately deciding to withdraw. Additionally, many players who are technically seniors have been on the early entrant list in recent years after being granted an extra year of NCAA eligibility in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the implementation of a rule allowing student athletes to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness (NIL) has resulted in the number of early entrants trending downward in recent years. In 2024, a total 201 prospects initially declared as early entrants, with 77 of those players ultimately keeping their names in the draft and going pro. Those figures were down from 242 and 92, respectively, in 2023, and 283 and 149 in 2022.

We’ll use this post to keep track of reports and announcements on early entrant prospects and their decisions. We’ll archive them all here in a running list, which will be accessible anytime under “Hoops Rumors Features” on the right sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Features” page found in our mobile menu.

The players below are listed in alphabetical order. If you have any corrections or omissions, please contact us.

Last updated 4-29-25 (10:33 am CT)


College Underclassmen

Expected to remain in draft:

  1. Ace Bailey, G/F, Rutgers (freshman)
  2. Egor Demin, G, BYU (freshman)
  3. V.J. Edgecombe, G, Baylor (freshman)
  4. Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma (freshman)
  5. Cooper Flagg, F, Duke (freshman)
  6. Boogie Fland, G, Arkansas (freshman)
  7. Rasheer Fleming, F/C, St. Joseph’s (junior)
  8. Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers (freshman)
  9. Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois (freshman)
  10. Tre Johnson, G, Texas (freshman)
  11. Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke (freshman)
  12. Khaman Maluach, C, Duke (freshman)
  13. Liam McNeeley, F, UConn (freshman)
  14. Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina (sophomore)
  15. Asa Newell, F, Georgia (freshman)
  16. Labaron Philon, G, Alabama (freshman)
  17. Drake Powell, G/F, UNC (freshman)
  18. Tyrese Proctor, G, Duke (junior)
  19. Derik Queen, C, Maryland (freshman)
  20. Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State (freshman)
  21. Will Riley, F, Illinois (freshman)
  22. Adou Thiero, F, Arkansas (junior)
  23. Danny Wolf, F/C, Michigan (junior)

Testing the draft waters:

Note: Some of these players may also be transferring to new schools.

  1. John Blackwell, G, Wisconsin (sophomore)
  2. Jaden Bradley, G, Arizona (junior)
  3. Carter Bryant, F, Arizona (freshman)
  4. Miles Byrd, G, San Diego State (sophomore)
  5. Rueben Chinyelu, C, Florida (sophomore)
  6. Alex Condon, F/C, Florida (sophomore)
  7. Tae Davis, F, Notre Dame (junior)
  8. Silas Demary, G, Georgia (sophomore)
  9. Jerry Deng, F, Florida State (sophomore)
  10. Treysen Eaglestaff, G, North Dakota (junior)
  11. Isaiah Evans, G/F, Duke (freshman)
  12. Elijah Fisher, G/F, Pacific (junior)
  13. PJ Haggerty, G, Memphis (sophomore)
  14. Chris Howell, G, UC San Diego (junior)
  15. Josh Hubbard, G, Mississippi State (sophomore)
  16. Karter Knox, F, Arkansas (freshman)
  17. Kobe Knox, G, South Florida (junior)
  18. Toibu Lawal, F, Virginia Tech (junior)
  19. Brenen Lorient, F, North Texas (junior)
  20. Jaland Lowe, G, Pittsburgh (sophomore)
  21. RJ Luis, F, St. John’s (junior)
  22. Nick Martinelli, F, Northwestern (junior)
  23. Camron McDowell, G, Northwestern Oklahoma State (junior)
  24. Devin McGlockton, F, Vanderbilt (junior)
  25. Mackenzie Mgbako, F, Indiana (sophomore)
  26. Yanic Konan Niederhauser, F/C, Penn State (junior)
  27. Kebba Njie, F, Notre Dame (junior)
  28. AK Okereke, F, Cornell (junior)
  29. Otega Oweh, G, Kentucky (junior)
  30. Tahaad Pettiford, G, Auburn (freshman)
  31. Devon Pryor, F, Texas (sophomore)
  32. Joson Sanon, G, Arizona State (freshman)
  33. Raysean Seamster, F, UT Arlington (junior)
  34. Thomas Sorber, F/C, Georgetown (freshman)
  35. Bruce Thornton, G, Ohio State (junior)
  36. Milos Uzan, G, Houston (junior)
  37. Brandon Walker, F, Montana State (junior)
  38. Darrion Williams, F, Texas Tech (junior)
  39. Money Williams, G, Montana (sophomore)

College Seniors

Note: Some of these players may also be transferring to new schools.

  1. Chad Baker-Mazara, G/F, Auburn
  2. Quincy Ballard, C, Wichita State
  3. Nathan Bittle, C, Oregon
  4. Tayton Conerway, G, Troy
  5. Melvin Council Jr., G, St. Bonaventure
  6. Cedric Coward, F, Washington State
  7. Dominick Harris, G, UCLA
  8. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, UAB
  9. Jaron Pierre, G, Jacksonville State
  10. Omar Rowe, G, Morehouse
  11. Jamir Watkins, G/F, Florida State

International players

Note: The country indicates where the player had been playing, not necessarily where he was born.

  1. Izan Almansa, F/C, Australia (born 2005)
  2. Mohammad Amini, G/F, France (born 2005)
  3. Alec Anigbata, F, Germany (born 2004)
  4. Neoklis Avdalas, G/F, Greece (born 2006)
  5. Bassala Bagayoko, C, Spain (born 2006)
  6. Joan Beringer, C, Slovenia (born 2006)
  7. Mohamed Diawara, F, France (born 2005)
  8. Asim Djulovic, G/F, Serbia (born 2005)
  9. Noa Essengue, F, Germany (born 2006)
  10. Mouhamed Faye, C, Italy (born 2005)
  11. Lazar Gacic, C, Serbia (born 2005)
  12. Hugo Gonzalez, F, Spain (born 2006)
  13. Ben Henshall, G/F, Australia (born 2004)
  14. Malique Lewis, F, Australia (born 2004)
  15. Mathias M’Madi, G, Spain (born 2005)
  16. Bogoljub Markovic, F/C, Serbia (born 2005)
  17. Paul Mbiya, F/C, France (born 2005)
  18. Muodubem Muoneke, G, Spain (born 2003)
  19. Ousmane N’Diaye, F/C, Spain (born 2004)
  20. Eli Ndiaye, C, Spain (born 2004)
  21. Zaion Nebot, G, France (born 2004)
  22. Saliou Niang, F, Italy (born 2004)
  23. Noah Penda, F, France (born 2005)
  24. Michael Ruzic, F, Spain (born 2006)
  25. Ben Saraf, G, Germany (born 2006)
  26. Alex Toohey, F, Australia (born 2004)
  27. David Torresani, G, Italy (born 2005)
  28. Nolan Traore, G, France (born 2006)
  29. Hansen Yang, C, China (born 2005)
  30. Rocco Zikarsky, C, Australia (born 2006)

Other players

  1. Thierry Darlan, G, Delaware Blue Coats (born 2004)
  2. Isaac Nogues, G, Rip City Remix (born 2004)
  3. Dink Pate, G/F, Mexico City Capitanes (born 2006)

Note: Information from Rookie Scale and HoopsHype was used in the creation of this post.

Poll: Who Should Win 2024/25 NBA Awards?

The NBA announced the 2024/25 finalists for its seven major awards on Sunday, revealing the top three vote-getters for Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Clutch Player of the Year.

A few of these awards have felt like foregone conclusions for a while, but some other results could be genuine surprises.

Today though, we’re not focusing on which players will win the awards, but the ones you believe should win them. Select your winners for this year’s major NBA awards in the seven polls below, then head to the comment section to weigh in with your thoughts.

Our polls only include the three finalists in each category, but if you think someone else deserves to win one of these awards, be sure to use the comment section to “write in” that pick and explain your reasoning.


Most Valuable Player

Defensive Player of the Year

Rookie of the Year

Most Improved Player

Sixth Man of the Year

Coach of the Year

Clutch Player of the Year