A day after moving into the top three of the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse shared how the team is approaching the draft. The 2019 NBA champion also spoke about the type of player he hopes to land with the No. 3 pick.
After an injury-filled season that ended with a 24-58 record and a 13th-place finish in the East, the Sixers were desperate for some lottery luck. They entered Monday with the fifth-best odds (10.5%) at getting the top pick, with their first-round selection protected through the top six. If it landed at No. 7 or lower, it would have gone to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Philly didn’t move up to No. 1, but it did jump two spots to No. 3 — giving the team a chance to pick from what most experts see as a clear top four.
Nick Nurse on Which Player He’s Hoping To Land With Philadelphia 76ers’ No. 3 2025 NBA Draft Pick
On Tuesday’s episode of “The Sports Bash” with Mike Gill, Nurse was asked if he had a specific player in mind after seeing Philly land the third pick. Without naming anyone, he said the team feels confident about its choices.
He also referenced the expectation that Duke star Cooper Flagg will go No. 1 to the Dallas Mavericks.
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“There’s certainly a couple in my mind that are on there. Now that we’re at three is when we can really dial in,” Nurse said. “They all know who’s going No. 1, and then we’ve got one team that can pick one of the two other guys that we want. So, if we have a couple, we’re in good shape, I think.”
After Dallas, most projections have the San Antonio Spurs taking Rutgers guard Dylan Harper at No. 2. That would leave Philly choosing between Harper’s teammate, Ace Bailey — a 6-foot-10 athletic wing — and Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe, a two-way shooting guard known for his explosiveness. Most major mock drafts have Bailey and Edgecombe slotted at No. 3 and No. 4, with some variation in the order.
Nurse Seeking Driven, High-Character Prospect With Philly’s No. 3 Pick
Nurse also shared what traits he’s looking for in Philly’s pick this year, highlighting effort, attitude, and a team-first mentality.
“That being said, I just want the most talent. I want somebody that competes to win — toughness, work — somebody that understands that this is a grind and a job, and you’ve got a lot of time to get better, a lot of time in the gym, and a good teammate, man. We want somebody that wants to compete to win, be part of a great organization.”
Bailey and Edgecombe both offer upside and could help build around Philly’s core trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. But, as always, health will be a big factor. Injuries limited that group to just 15 games together this season.
