The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft has officially concluded. All 30 first-round picks were made on June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, wrapping up the opening night of the two-day event. Surprisingly, however, Johni Broome didn’t hear his name called, despite having a stellar senior season at Auburn.
Among many unexpected moments of the night, his snub from the first round was one of the most shocking. This surprising result has sparked widespread discussion across the basketball community, with many now questioning the factors behind Broome’s slide.
What Cost Johni Broome His First-Round Pick Despite a Stellar College Career?
Broome is Auburn’s All-American big man who, in his senior season, averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. On paper, those numbers look impressive, but his shooting percentages — 27.8% from three-point range and 58.7% from the free-throw line — raised red flags about his ability to stretch the floor at the next level.
Another concern is his age. It also indirectly contributed to his first-round slide. Broome is nearly 23 years old as he enters the NBA, a detail that holds more weight in a league increasingly focused on younger prospects with longer developmental runways.
Draft Profile: JOHNI BROOME
Fav comp: Isaiah Stewart
Pros: Rebounding, strength, physicality, passing
Cons: Athleticism, draft age
Swing skill: Switchability on defense
More below ⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YVpRmA3NBO
– Max Klotz (@MaxKlotz_) June 23, 2025
That’s why early mock drafts never consistently projected Broome as a first-round pick from the start. He participated in multiple pre-draft workouts and visits, including with Golden State, Boston, OKC, Detroit, and Phoenix. However, none of those teams offered a first-round guarantee.
Johni Broome: 23 y/o, 6′ 9.25” 249 lbs, Big, he averaged:
25.5 MPG
18.6 PPG
10.8 RPG
2.9 APG
0.9 SPG
2.1 BPG
51/28/58Clever, largely below-the-rim interior player who comes with questions about his mobility in space on defense and what his role might be on offense. pic.twitter.com/XbxI15rzob
– RaptorsMuse 🦖 (@RaptorsMuseOk) June 25, 2025
With no clear projection in the top 30, the Auburn star slipped into the early-to-mid second-round territory. The most updated mock drafts had him landing between picks 33 and 50.
At the 2025 NBA Draft Combine, the Tigers forward’s wingspan measured at just above 7’0″, giving him the length to be disruptive defensively. However, scouts consistently pointed to his limited vertical explosiveness, as evidenced by his 24.5-inch standing vertical. This raised concerns about his ability to thrive in transition and underscored limitations in his mobility.
MORE: Try Our Free NBA Mock Draft Simulator
Some Redditors also highlighted his other strengths and limitations. One user wrote, “He’s a serviceable college 4 but realistically his only NBA position is center. He’s not athletic enough or skilled enough (shooting wise) to play the 4 in the NBA.”
Another added, “He’ll be a massive liability switching on the perimeter. Foot speed and agility are definite weaknesses… and that stigma alone likely drops him out of the 1st.”
That said, the 23-year-old is still one of the most NBA-ready bigs in the draft. With the calendar just flipping to June 26, we should soon see him selected by one of the teams in the second round.
