Latest news with #2025NBADraft
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Egor Demin Nears NBA Dream Amid Political Turmoil With Home Country
Egor Demin Nears NBA Dream Amid Political Turmoil With Home Country originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In three weeks, former BYU point guard Egor Demin is expected to hear his name called in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. But as the 19-year-old prepares for the life-changing moment at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, controversy looms from his home country of Russia. Advertisement On Tuesday, The Moscow Times reported that Russia's Ministry of Justice added Brigham Young University to its list of 'undesirable' organizations. The rare designation carries criminal penalties for any Russian nationals affiliated with such groups. Under Russian law, this could put Demin at legal risk if he returns to home. Despite the news, Demin remains closely tied to BYU. The Moscow Times report left BYU faculty stunned, including Jeff Hardy, a professor specializing in Soviet history. 'Complete shock,' Hardy told Sam Foster of BYU's Universe Sports. 'This appeared to come out of nowhere." Experts speculate the blacklisting may be linked to a February panel at BYU titled 'Russia as a Global Threat,' hosted by a U.S. State Department official. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors BYU, was not named on the list, according to the report from Foster. The Russian government has not explained why BYU was blacklisted, and the school has not released an official response. Advertisement Related: Big 12 Official Makes Final Decision on Controversial Penalty From BYU-Utah On the court, Demin's NBA stock is trending upward. Many NBA Draft analysts have said that Demin 'looked great' during the NBA Combine and may be peaking at the right time. Demin, who helped lead BYU to the Sweet 16, is praised for his rare size and elite passing but must prove his shooting can be consistent. Despite political tensions, Demin continues to publicly embrace BYU. He still lists '@byumbb' in his Instagram bio and has expressed intentions to finish his degree with the university in the future. During an April interview, he said, 'I was coming here with faith, and I am leaving with a bigger faith.' Related: BYU Officials Send Clear Message About Jake Retzlaff's Future in Provo While his path to the NBA is set, what lies ahead in his relationship with Russia remains uncertain. Whether Commissioner Adam Silver utters 'BYU' on draft night may hold more significance than anyone expected. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Labaron Philon shocked fans by returning to Alabama, withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft
Labaron Philon shocked fans by returning to Alabama, withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft Show Caption Hide Caption 2025 NBA Draft Combine winners: Raynaud, Lendeborg and Byrd These 2025 NBA draft prospects are the biggest winners from the NBA Draft Combine Now that we officially know which players are returning to the NCAA and which are turning pro, we can say that the biggest surprise is Labaron Philon. After a strong campaign at Alabama, the freshman was an early entry candidate for the 2025 NBA Draft. While at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, he told reporters that he was fully committed to turning pro and had no intensions of returning to the NCAA. But prospects had until May 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET to withdraw from the draft and that is exactly what he did. More: 13 players to withdraw from 2025 NBA Draft and return to NCAA, including Labaron Philon Philon did not participate in five-on-five scrimmages at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. He measured 6' 2.75'' barefoot with a 6' 6.25'' wingspan. He ranked No. 29 overall in the most recent consensus projection, via Rookie Scale. More: 7 fascinating players who decided to stay in the 2025 NBA Draft, including Cedric Coward Philon averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game as a freshman. His floater was one of the most efficient and prolific among all collegiate players last season. He was also one of the leaders in 3-pointers assisted among freshmen, per CBB Analytics. This is a huge win for Alabama head coach Nate Oats, who can potentially help Philon improve his draft stock to an even more comfortable position with a breakout sophomore season.
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NBA Draft lottery winners (Cooper Flagg! Mavs!) and losers (the lottery system)
2025 NBA Draft lottery winners (Cooper Flagg! Mavs!) and losers (the lottery system) Monday night's 2025 NBA Draft lottery sent the first-overall pick to the Dallas Mavericks in a shock, and plenty of winners and losers emerged from how the chips fell. 2025 NBA Mock Draft 5.0: First round predictions post-lottery, with Cooper Flagg at No. 1 The winners were pretty obvious, as were some of the losers. The Mavericks once again grabbed headlines for an unbelievable NBA development, and yet another generational talent found out where he'll most likely start his career. 2025 NBA Draft order: Where each team will pick in the first-round We've gone through the results to tab who these winners and losers are and why they earned those labels. Winner: Mavericks GM Nico Harrison Just months after enraging Mavericks fans by trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers out of nowhere, the embattled Dallas general manager got the lifeline of a lifetime with the first-overall 2025 NBA Draft pick. He will most likely use that selection to take Duke superstar Cooper Flagg, who will anchor a new era in Dallas basketball. Anger from the Dončić trade won't ever go away in full, but landing Flagg should save Harrison some grief with Dallas fans. He's got one of the easiest decisions to make in NBA history next month by drafting Flagg. If he messes this up, we'll be even more shocked than with him trading away Luka. Winner: Cooper Flagg Flagg going to a Mavericks team loaded with veteran talent would be a fantastic way for his NBA career to start. Rather than kicking off a rebuild in Utah with the Jazz or trying to dig teams like the Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets out of the doldrums, Flagg looks to go to a team that already boasts Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, among others. That's an outstanding situation for Flagg to join as a rookie. He's a clear winner in this. Loser: Jazz, Wizards, Pelicans and Hornets fans Long-suffering fans of the Jazz, Hornets, Pelicans and Wizards had to watch the coveted Flagg pick go to a team that literally just played in the 2024 NBA Finals. That's just tough, and the "rigged" conspiracy theories are understandable. When will these teams catch a break? Those Flagg dreams went up in smoke so fast. Loser: NBA fans who aren't ready for the Spurs to be great again We're sorry for those who aren't ready for a new dawn in San Antonio. The Spurs are set up for real success in 2025, and the second-overall pick will play a big part in that. Yes, the team could stay put and land an impact rookie to join budding superstar Victor Wembanyama, but flipping the pick to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a trade package to land Giannis Antetokounmpo is also a real possibility. Either way, the Spurs are going to put a pretty formidable team on the court this fall. The new era of Spurs dominance looks to be right on schedule. Yes, Antetokounmpo really could wind up in San Antonio this summer. The Spurs trading the draft's second-overall pick for the superstar feels more and more realistic by the minute. Antetokounmpo teaming up with Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle feels unfair at this point, but that's what happens when you win the lottery like the Spurs did. Sure, it takes two to tango, but if Giannis really decides to move on from the Bucks, San Antonio might be his next landing spot. Who else can offer this premium a draft pick to Milwaukee right now? Winner: The 76ers' 2025 turnaround The 76ers might not have to wait long to get back to the NBA playoffs. Landing the third-overall pick in this year's draft should land Philly an instant impact rookie, which will only make the team's young foundation even stronger. Sure, superstar Joel Embiid's injury history is always a talking point, but a top-three pick joining young stars like Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain should give Philadelphia fans plenty to look forward to down the road. Hey, if the vets like Embiid, Paul George, Kyle Lowry, Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele stick around and/or play well, the 76ers could seriously contend next season. Loser: The NBA hoping people won't feel the draft lottery is rigged Yeah, we can't really help the NBA on this one. When the Mavericks, Spurs and 76ers are in your top four and the Wizards, Jazz and Pelicans are on the outside looking in, the "rigged" accusations won't go away. Nobody likes the draft lottery when it doesn't go their way, but this year's results will get fans even more suspicious than before. It's not great if you're hoping to convince people of league impartiality. Winner: Mavericks fans who really deserved a break Take a victory lap, Mavs fans. After losing Luka, you will most likely land Cooper. It might not be the same as it was, but you can now be excited about the future of your franchise again. You guys seriously deserve it after how your year started.
