Big Board 4.0: My Lottery Rankings Going Into the NBA Combine

From surefire stars to polarizing upside bets—this is my personal lottery.

It’s May, which means the NBA Draft is right around the corner—and I’ll be on the ground in Chicago for the Lottery and Combine in just a couple weeks. What makes this 2025 draft class so unique is how visible the top of the class has been all season. After years of top prospects developing overseas or in the G League, we finally had a cycle where the projected top five picks were on national TV every week. You’ve seen them. You’ve formed your own opinions. Now here’s mine.

Earlier this week, the NBA released its early entry list, and the number of players who declared for the draft is the lowest it’s been in years—just 106 names. NIL is changing the game. Several agents and scouts told me the same thing: for many players, returning to college simply pays more than a late first-round deal. Some prospects didn’t even test the waters. I personally know of players who’d need to be drafted in the lottery just to match what they’re being offered to come back to school.

But for those who are in? The evaluation process is officially on. In this post, I’m revealing the top 14 players on my Big Board 3.0—my projected lottery. There are some risers. Some surprises. And yes, a few names you won’t find on consensus mocks. This is based on my film, my intel, and a whole lot of time asking myself, “Am I sure this guy’s better than the player ranked behind him?”

This is just the lottery tier—my full Top 65 will be out next week, so keep an eye out.

Let’s get into it.