The 2025 NBA Draft has finally arrived and it is time to learn where this loaded draft class will end up. Drafts are very polarizing as fans take a strong stance on how they view a certain player. Just over the last few weeks, names like Ace Bailey have been thrown through the ringer with some claiming he is a bust and some saying he is one of the best in the class. All of this happens without playing a single second in the NBA.
Part of this noise is related to the NBA player comparisons that swirl during draft time. With that being said, here are some of the best NBA Draft player comparisons for the most polarizing players of this 2025 NBA Draft class.
Best 2025 NBA Draft Player Comparisons
Derik Queen, F – Maryland
Queen is a freshman forward out of Maryland that has some scouts raving. He projects as a multi-skilled big who can handle the ball, play in the pick-and-roll, and also operate out of the post. With that being said, he is still quite young and has a lot of physical development to go through. He lost a ton of weight at Maryland and improved his agility a lot which will go a long way. Now, he must put muscle on to help establish himself in the lane.
With Derik Queen‘s wide ranging skill-set as a big forward, two names come to mind: Naz Reid and Marreese Speights. These names may make it seem that Queen is slightly overrated, especially if he goes in the early lottery. However, every good team could use a skilled big to come of the bench and run an offense through. Queen projects as exactly that. Fans that expect to draft Queen and have a superstar may be a bit disappointed.
VJ Edgecombe, G – Baylor
Edgecombe is another one of the more polarizing players in the draft. He was a highly touted high school recruit that was slightly underwhelming at Baylor. VJ Edgecombe is a raw athlete that is still developing his skillset. He has an inconsistent jumpshot and slightly lacks a feel for the game. However, he is an explosive athlete waiting to put anyone on a poster.
Edgecombe’s projection is a lofty one. If he reaches his highest potential, Anthony Edwards is the player that compares closest. Edwards came into the NBA as a top pick that was raw but popped with insane talent. Check out some of the videos of Edgecombe playing with the Bahamas, some high school games, and the explosive Baylor performances and you start to see the trajectory. The issue is developing the consistency that can make him one of the best players in the NBA. It took Edwards 2 years to become an efficient NBA player and he has since took off. Look for Edgecombe to do the same.
Kon Knueppel, G – Duke
Knueppel is widely regarded as the best shooter in the NBA draft. He was Cooper Flagg‘s sidekick at Duke but was also able to run the team and lead the Blue Devils to an ACC title while Flagg was hurt. In the NBA, Kon Knueppel projects as a player that will make his money by making jumpers. However, he also can run the second unit or be a secondary playmaker if needed.
Because of his elite shooting but underrated playmaking ability, Knueppel projects to be Desmond Bane. Bane is relatively undersized with suboptimal measurables and still has found his way to huge contracts and big time stats on great basketball teams. Knueppel will do the same and that is why he will be drafted inside the top 10.
Amari Williams, C – Kentucky
Williams transferred to Kentucky from Drexel and had a monster season. He essentially operated as the hub of the Wildcats offense which is what the center does in a Mark Pope offense. Williams controlled the tempo of the game well and has elite passing ability. He can rip and run, operate out of the pick-and-roll, play with his back to the backseat, or beat defenders off the bounce. However, he struggles mightily with jumpshots and free-throws.
Amari Williams shares a ton of similarities with Nic Claxton. Both guys operate as playmaking centers with great size and agility. Both guys protect the rim, can switch onto guards, and get in foul-trouble defensively. They also really struggle to shoot it, love to handle the ball, and are elite playmakers for their size.
Ace Bailey, F – Rutgers
Bailey is the name that has stirred up the most dust for this NBA Draft. Regardless of his workout plans, his game is something to discuss as well. Ace Bailey clearly has the size and the tools to be a solid NBA player. However, there are people that have discussed Bailey as the most elite prospect in this loaded class. Bailey is a poor decision-maker with poor feel for the game. There is no shot that he would ever turn down. He also is a volume shooter and below average finisher at the rim.
These facts sound exactly the same as Michael Porter Jr. Both guys were highly touted recruits that believe they are the best offensive players on Earth. They need to improve their feel for the game to really reach that elite level of talent that the greats possess.
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