00:00The Round 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft is officially underway last Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
00:08Who will emerge as this year's top draft prospects? Here's Justin Ilano with a report.
00:14With the first pick in the 2025...
00:18As predicted, Cooper Flagg, the Duke University star, was chosen as the number one pick overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft this Thursday.
00:28The Mavericks struck big, securing the top spot despite only a 1.8% chance in last month's draft lottery.
00:36With a 6'8 forward now joining Dallas, he is expected to step up as the team's new face after the trade of superstar Luka Doncic.
00:45Flagg will also team up with former top picks Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, making next season's Mavericks a team to watch as they aim to be title contenders once again.
00:55I'm excited to be a sponge, to get down there and just learn. Be surrounded by Hall of Fame caliber guys and just to be able to learn from them, it's going to be an incredible experience.
01:06I feel so blessed to be in the position I am and just to get down there, like I said, be a sponge, learn and try and grow my game as much as I can.
01:13Meanwhile, another Filipino bloodline will be represented in the NBA as Dylan Harper, a guard from Rutgers University, was selected second overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
01:24Harper is the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and Filipina basketball coach Maria Harper.
01:30The 6'6 guard now joins a select group of NBA players with Filipino descent, including Raymond Townsend, Jordan Clarkson, Jalen Green, and Jared McCain.
01:41I mean, it definitely is surreal just because, you know, my mom's family history, my mom's family background, and just all the efforts and all the efforts that hurt back to me and just me wanting to rep them and just wanting to be out there and just show my color and show truly who I am, so it's definitely great.
02:01Here is the complete list of the top 30 picks in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft.
02:07Round 2 of the draft took place earlier this morning at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
02:13Justine Ilano from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
