Nba Mock Draft 2025: Ai Predicts The Entire First Round

Using generative AI to make sports predictions has never really produced the best results.

Just a few weeks ago, we tried to see if Microsoft's Copilot could predict the NFL Draft and it went off the rails almost immediately. After correctly assuming Cam Ward would go No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, it got off track with Adbul Carter at No. 2 and Shedeur Sanders to the New York Giants at No. 3. Safe to say that did not happen.

But maybe that's just football. Does AI know basketball any better? We put Copilot to the test following the NBA Draft lottery and the results are, well, let's just call them entertaining.

The Prompt: Given how every NBA team finished the 2024-2025 regular season, create a mock draft for the entire first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Use the 2025 NBA lottery results to set your draft order. Use the 2025 NBA combine invitees as the draft pool. Do not consider players who have already withdrawn from the draft pool. Explain your reasoning for each pick.

Here's what Copilot spit out:

1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (Duke)
   • The Mavericks, having won the lottery, select Cooper Flagg, a versatile forward who led Duke to the Final Four. Flagg's scoring, rebounding, and defensive abilities make him a franchise cornerstone.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
   • The Spurs add Dylan Harper, a dynamic guard who can score and facilitate. Harper's playmaking skills will complement the Spurs' young core.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
   • The 76ers select Ace Bailey, a talented forward with a strong all-around game. Bailey's versatility and ability to contribute in multiple areas make him a valuable addition.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Boogie Fland (Arkansas)
   • The Hornets pick Boogie Fland, a playmaking guard who can pair well with LaMelo Ball. Fland's ability to distribute and score will complement Ball's style of play.
5. Utah Jazz: Tyrese Proctor (Duke)
   • The Jazz add Tyrese Proctor, a skilled guard with excellent court vision. Proctor's playmaking ability will help Utah's offense run smoothly and create opportunities for his teammates.
6. Washington Wizards: Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
   • The Wizards select Jase Richardson, a versatile guard who can strengthen their backcourt. Richardson's ability to play both guard positions and contribute on both ends of the floor makes him a valuable addition.
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Grant Nelson (Alabama)
   • The Pelicans select Grant Nelson, a forward with a strong defensive presence. Nelson's ability to guard multiple positions and protect the rim will bolster New Orleans' defense.
8. Brooklyn Nets: Johni Broome (Auburn)
   • The Nets add Johni Broome, a dominant big man who can anchor their frontcourt. Broome's rebounding and shot-blocking abilities will provide Brooklyn with a strong interior presence.
9. Toronto Raptors: Karter Knox (Arkansas)
   • The Raptors pick Karter Knox, a forward with scoring ability and athleticism. Knox's ability to score from various spots on the floor will help Toronto's offense.
10. Houston Rockets: Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)
    • The Rockets select Ryan Kalkbrenner, a rim-protecting center. Kalkbrenner's shot-blocking and defensive skills will enhance Houston's interior defense.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Kam Jones (Marquette)
    • The Trail Blazers add Kam Jones, a sharpshooting guard. Jones' ability to stretch the floor with his shooting will complement Portland's roster.
12. Chicago Bulls: Carter Bryant (Arizona)
    • The Bulls pick Carter Bryant, a forward with a versatile skill set. Bryant's ability to contribute in multiple areas will fit well with Chicago's style of play.
13. Atlanta Hawks: Maxime Raynaud (Stanford)
    • The Hawks select Maxime Raynaud, a big man with shooting range. Raynaud's ability to space the floor and shoot from distance will fit well with Atlanta's offensive system.
14. San Antonio Spurs (via trade): Alex Toohey (Sydney, Australia)
    • The Spurs, having acquired an additional pick through a trade, select Alex Toohey, an international forward with high potential. Toohey's versatility and skill set make him an intriguing prospect for San Antonio.
15. Los Angeles Lakers: Ben Saraf (Ulm, Germany)
    • The Lakers add Ben Saraf, a guard with strong playmaking skills. Saraf's ability to create for his teammates and run the offense will be valuable for Los Angeles.
16. Miami Heat: Vladislav Goldin (Michigan)
    • The Heat pick Vladislav Goldin, a center with a strong defensive game. Goldin's shot-blocking and rebounding abilities will enhance Miami's frontcourt.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid, Spain)
    • The Timberwolves select Hugo Gonzalez, an international wing with scoring ability. Gonzalez's ability to score from various spots on the floor will help Minnesota's offense.
18. Brooklyn Nets (via trade): Derik Queen (Maryland)
    • The Nets, having acquired an additional pick through a trade, add Derik Queen, a forward with a solid all-around game. Queen's versatility and ability to contribute in multiple areas make him a valuable addition to Brooklyn's roster.
19. Sacramento Kings: Labaron Philon (Alabama)
    • The Kings pick Labaron Philon, a guard with excellent scoring ability. Philon's ability to create his own shot and score efficiently will boost Sacramento's backcourt.
20. New York Knicks: Labaron Philon (Alabama)
    • The Knicks select Labaron Philon, a guard with excellent scoring ability. Philon's ability to create his own shot and score efficiently will boost New York's backcourt.
21. Denver Nuggets: Miles Byrd (San Diego State)
    • The Nuggets add Miles Byrd, a versatile forward who can contribute on both ends of the floor. Byrd's defensive skills and ability to score will help Denver's rotation.
22. Phoenix Suns: Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida)
    • The Suns select Walter Clayton Jr., a guard with strong playmaking and scoring abilities. Clayton's skills will complement Phoenix's backcourt.
23. Golden State Warriors: Egor Demin (BYU)
    • The Warriors pick Egor Demin, a forward with shooting range and defensive versatility. Demin's ability to stretch the floor will fit well with Golden State's system.
24. Milwaukee Bucks: PJ Haggerty (Memphis)
    • The Bucks add PJ Haggerty, a guard with strong scoring and playmaking skills. Haggerty's ability to create for himself and others will enhance Milwaukee's backcourt.
25. Los Angeles Clippers: Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
    • The Clippers select Kasparas Jakucionis, a forward with a versatile skill set. Jakucionis' ability to contribute in multiple areas will fit well with Los Angeles' roster.
26. Boston Celtics: Sion James (Duke)
    • The Celtics pick Sion James, a guard with strong defensive skills and playmaking ability. James' versatility will be valuable for Boston's rotation.
27. Memphis Grizzlies: Tre Johnson (Texas)
    • The Grizzlies add Tre Johnson, a forward with scoring ability and athleticism. Johnson's ability to score from various spots on the floor will help Memphis' offense.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chaz Lanier (Tennessee)
    • The Thunder select Chaz Lanier, a guard with strong playmaking and defensive skills. Lanier's ability to contribute on both ends of the floor will fit well with Oklahoma City's young roster.
29. Indiana Pacers: Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB)
    • The Pacers pick Yaxel Lendeborg, a forward with a versatile skill set. Lendeborg's ability to contribute in multiple areas will fit well with Indiana's style of play.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers: RJ Luis Jr. (St. John's)
    • The Cavaliers select RJ Luis Jr., a guard with strong scoring and playmaking abilities. Luis' ability to create for himself and others will enhance Cleveland's backcourt.

OK. Wow. There's a lot to unpack here.

First off, this mock draft is horrendous. Don't just take my word for it, either. For The Win's Bryan Kalbrosky spends much of the year focusing on NBA draft prospects — he has a coherent recent mock draft here — and when I showed him the AI results he called it "beyond useless".

Part of that is because how many basic details the AI still got wrong. Boogie Fland, the No. 4 pick in this mock draft, has already withdrawn from the prospect pool. Labaron Philon is somehow selected twice — in back-to-back picks by the New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings, no less, which should make for an interesting work commute — and Baylor star V.J. Edgecombe is nowhere to be found despite being a consensus lottery pick.

All of which is to say that while generative AI might be good for some things, it's still a long ways away from being able to come close to predicting an NBA Draft or any sports draft, for that matter.

When we get closer to the draft we'll run this experiment again and see if Copilot does any better. It can't do much worse.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: NBA mock draft 2025: AI predicts all 30 first-round picks