THERE were a few surprises throughout the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, making for plenty of bolters and sliders among the prospects making for an unpredictable night of action in Chicago.

Some teams showed their confidence in prospects earlier than expected, while other sides got a bargain further down the order after a few players dropped down lower in surprising fashion, making for an entertaining round.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will run through a couple of bolters and a couple of sliders that made headlines in Chicago earlier today, starting with a Chinese big man who came from the clouds in the first round.

BOLTERS

Hansen Yang – Pick 16 to Portland

The biggest talking point of the night, the Trail Blazers stunned the NBA world when they acquired Yang with the 16th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. Although predicted to be selected, the center was not projected to be picked up into the second round of the intake, but went much earlier than that, going ahead of some big names in the frontcourt. There is no doubting his upside at seven-foot-one, and his fundamentals are sound early in his career, but he has seemingly done enough to impress the Blazers, who see him as a key part of their future in the frontcourt.

Egor Demin – Pick eight to Brooklyn

The first big bolter of the night, the Nets showed their confidence in the European point guard by selecting him in the top 10, which was a surprise given the talent still on the board. Admittedly, the best two point guards in Jeremiah Fears and Dylan Harper had already been selected, but Demin was still a surprise regardless. It is easy to see the vision however, with Demin having an impressive upside as a prospect given he stands a whopping six-foot-nine at the point guard position. If he can improve his jumpshot in the coming years, it may just prove a masterstroke.

SLIDERS

Khaman Maluach – Pick 10 to Phoenix

The biggest bargain of the lottery, Maluach was the perfect result for the Phoenix Suns, who were in serious need of some frontcourt stocks. Also trading for Mark Williams on draft night, the Suns managed to sort their big man woes over just a few minutes, and Maluach could be considered a steal. He was expected by some to go as high as pick four, but slid to the final selection of the top 10, which is remarkable considering he is the best center in the draft class. Now, Phoenix has its frontcourt rotation set for the next 10 years, and will be counting its lucky stars that the nine teams who picked prior to them swooped on the Duke Blue Devils center.

Kasparas Jakucionis – Pick 20 to Miami

Considered a top-10 chance heading into the draft, Jakucionis fell to the Heat at pick 20 in a bargain for the team, who be looking to pair him in the backcourt with Tyler Herro in the coming years. Herro has been playing the point guard position for the Heat this season, but it is not his preferred position, so Miami would have been thrilled a prospect as talented as Jakucionis was still on the board when it was on the clock for the first time. A tremendous playmaker who also boasts impressive shot creation and three level scoring, he looms as an important player for the Heat as they continue to move into life after Jimmy Butler.