2025 NBA Draft: College stars go early in second round
FILE – Ryan Kalkbrenner talks to media at the 2025 NBA basketball Draft Combine in Chicago, on May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Former college basketball stars Ryan Kalkbrenner and Johni Broome went among the first five picks of the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
Kalkbrenner, the 7-foot-1 center who won four straight Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards at Creighton, was the fourth pick of the night at No. 34 overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte also picked Duke forward Sion James one selection earlier.
2025 NBA Draft results: Full list of first-round picks
Broome, a consensus first-team All-American at Auburn who was The Sporting News’ National Player of the Year, was picked No. 35 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers.
A 6-foot-9 forward, Broome averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 blocks per game for the Tigers in his final year of college basketball.
Kalkbrenner, meanwhile, put up 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per contest in his fifth and final year at Creighton.
READ: 2025 NBA Draft: Wizards, Hornets make intriguing picks
The night began with a trade, as the Minnesota Timberwolves dealt the 31st overall pick to the Phoenix Suns for the 36th pick and two future second-rounders, ESPN reported. Phoenix used the opening pick of the second round on Saint Joseph’s forward Rasheer Fleming.
The 36th pick reportedly changed hands from Minnesota to the Brooklyn Nets to the Los Angeles Lakers, who chose Arkansas big man Adou Thiero.
Will Richard, a starting guard for national champion Florida, went to the Golden State Warriors with the 56th pick (via a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies).
NBA draft second-round results, with draft-day trades included:
- (31 overall): Phoenix Suns (from Minnesota), F Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s
- (32): Orlando Magic (from Boston), F Noah Penda, France
- (33): Charlotte Hornets, F Sion James, Duke
- (34): Charlotte Hornets, C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
- (35): Philadelphia 76ers, F/C Johni Broome, Auburn
- (36): Los Angeles Lakers (from Brooklyn), F Adou Thiero, Arkansas
- (37): Detroit Pistons, G Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
- (38): Indiana Pacers (from San Antonio), G Kam Jones, Marquette
- (39): Toronto Raptors, G Alijah Martin, Florida
- (40): New Orleans Pelicans (from Washington), G Micah Peavy, Georgetown
- (41): Phoenix Suns (via Golden State), G Koby Brea, Kentucky
- (42): Sacramento Kings, C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
- (43): Washington Wizards (from Utah), G Jamir Watkins, Florida State
- (44): Oklahoma City Thunder, F Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern
- (45): Minnesota Timberwolves (from Chicago via Phoenix), C Rocco Zikarsky, Australia
- (46): Boston Celtics (from Orlando), C Amari Williams, Kentucky
- (47): Milwaukee Bucks, F Bogoljub Markovic, Serbia
- (48): Memphis Grizzlies, G Javon Small, West Virginia
- (49): Cleveland Cavaliers, G Tyrese Proctor, Duke
- (50): Los Angeles Clippers (from New York), G Kobe Sanders, Nevada
- (51): New York Knicks (from Los Angeles Clippers), F Mohamed Diawara, France
- (52): Golden State Warriors (from Phoenix), F Alex Toohey, Australia
- (53): Utah Jazz, F John Tonje, Wisconsin
- (54): Indiana Pacers, G Taelon Peter, Liberty
- (55): Chicago Bulls (from Los Angeles Lakers), F Lachlan Ulbrich, Australia
- (56): Golden State Warriors (from Memphis), G Will Richard, Florida
- (57): Boston Celtics (from Orlando), G Max Shulga, VCU
- (58): Cleveland Cavaliers, G Saliou Niang, Senegal
- (59): Houston Rockets, G Jahmai Mashack, Tennessee
