How to watch the NBA draft 2025 live online or on TV, including free options
Basketball fans will be keeping their eye on New York tonight for the first round of the 2025 NBA draft at Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, with an 8 p.m. ET tip-off in Brooklyn. Round two takes place tomorrow, Thursday, June 26, at the same time and same place.
There will be a total of 59 picks this year, and fans will be watching tonight to see if the Duke Blue Devils’ Cooper Flagg will be going to the Dallas Mavericks, who have the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
The draft also has a number of excellent shooters, led by two freshmen: Tre Johnson of the Texas Longhorns and Duke’s Kon Knueppel. It also has some excellent “3 and D” prospects, or those who excel at both three-pointers and defense: Arizona Wildcats’ Carter Bryant, Saint Joseph’s Hawks’ Rasheer Fleming, and Washington State Cougars’ Cedric Coward.
Here’s a look at the order of selections for tonight’s first round of the NBA draft.
First Round
- Dallas Mavericks
- San Antonio Spurs
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Charlotte Hornets
- Utah Jazz
- Washington Wizards
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Brooklyn Nets
- Toronto Raptors
- Houston Rockets (Reportedly traded to Phoenix)
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Chicago Bulls
- Atlanta Hawks
- San Antonio
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Washington
- Brooklyn
- Miami Heat
- Utah
- Atlanta (Reportedly traded to Brooklyn)
- New Orleans
- Oklahoma City
- Orlando Magic
- Brooklyn
- Brooklyn
- Boston Celtics
- Phoenix Suns
- Los Angeles Clippers
NBA Draft 2025: Why only 59 picks?
Instead of the usual 60 picks, this year there are only 59. Why? Blame it on the New York Knicks, who were denied their second-round pick as a result of talking to Jalen Brunson before free agency discussions were allowed in 2022, The New York Times reported. (Brunson went on become the Knicks’ best player, averaging 26 points and 7.3 assists per game, according to ESPN.)
How can I watch or stream the NBA Draft live?
In the United States, the NBA draft 2025 will air live on ABC and ESPN. ABC is available for traditional cable viewers and free with an over-the-air antenna. Cable subscribers can also watch ABC live through the ABC website and via its mobile apps.
Cord-cutters also have the option to stream ABC on a live-TV streaming service that offers the network as part of a bundle, including Fubo, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Live TV.
The 2025 NBA draft can also be accessed on SiriusXM, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, and the ESPN app.
