Why the 2025 NBA Draft Picks Are Wrong (And Why Data Says Otherwise)

The Draft Is a Mirage

I’ve spent seven years staring at player stats in Tableau dashboards—deep reds and navy gradients—while others chased narratives wrapped in hype. The top three picks? They’re not who you think. Dallas’ Cooper Flag? A body type mismatch with his actual court impact. He’s tall, yes—but his footwork is brittle under pressure.

The Spurs’ Mistake Isn’t Harp—It’s Herd Mentality

Second pick: Devin Hopper. Everyone says he’s ‘the next LeBron.’ But here’s the data: his assist-to-turn ratio drops off after minute four. He’s not a playmaker—he’s a mimic of last year’s playbook. The Spurs traded their future for nostalgia.

The 76ers Got It Right (Even If Nobody Did)

Third pick: Tyre Johnson. His shooting touch? Pure chaos—but it works when the clock hits zero. He doesn’t need to be ‘the next Curry.’ He needs to be himself: an unorthodox trigger who thrives when defenses collapse.

Luka Vjelkum? No Thanks.

The Hornets picked him because he ‘looks like a ball handler.’ But he’s short—and his defense is aggressive because he has nothing else. That’s not talent; that’s desperation dressed as potential.

Why Jazz Missed Beal Again

They took him because he had ‘potential.’ But potential without context is just noise in our models. His rim protection? Below average. His decision tree? Overfitted to past trends.

The Real Dark Horse?

14th Pick: Liam MacNili (Spurs again).

Two drafts ago they passed on him—now they’re backtracking like desperate gamblers at midnight poker while everyone else watched reruns of last year’s playoffs.

I didn’t come here for drama—I came for math that doesn’t lie.