As the 2025 NBA Draft nears, the league has begun extending coveted green room invitations to top prospects. These exclusive invites provide a select group of aspiring NBA rookies the opportunity to sit near the draft stage with their families as they await Commissioner Adam Silver’s announcement of the draft picks.
While an invitation often signals strong draft stock, past years have proven nothing is guaranteed.
Complete List of 2025 NBA Draft Green Room Invitees
Not surprisingly, the first wave of 13 green room invites was headlined by Duke’s Cooper Flagg, widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick. ESPN reported that all of the following players are expected to go early in the first round, with all but one, Georgia’s Asa Newell, projected as lottery picks in their latest mock draft.
Initial Green Room Invitees:
- Cooper Flagg (Duke)
- Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
- Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
- VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
- Tre Johnson (Texas)
- Khaman Maluach (Duke)
- Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
- Kon Knueppel (Duke)
- Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
- Egor Demin (BYU)
- Carter Bryant (Arizona)
- Derik Queen (Maryland)
- Asa Newell (Georgia)
A second batch of six additional players has now been invited to join this group in New York. Among them is Noa Essengue, a projected top-10 pick currently playing in the German BBL Finals, potentially complicating his ability to attend in person. The NBA is expected to issue five more green room invitations later this week, bringing the projected total to 24.
Each invitee is allowed to bring six guests to sit at their table during the draft, which begins June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Second Wave of Green Room Invitees:
- Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
- Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
- Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
- Liam McNeeley (Connecticut)
- Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin)
- Will Riley (Illinois)
NEWS: Illinois wing Will Riley has received a green room invite to attend the NBA Draft with his family, a source told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/FPp94C3tvD
– Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 16, 2025
The NBA determines the invite list by consulting first-round team executives, who vote on the top 25 prospects they expect to see selected early. This is done to minimize the risk of players waiting too long under the national spotlight.
However, green room presence does not ensure a first-round selection. Recent examples include Johnny Furphy and Kyle Filipowski, who received invitations in 2024 but were picked in the second round. Historically, names like Bol Bol, Deyonta Davis, and Rashard Lewis have also experienced draft-night slides despite green room appearances.
With the draft now spanning two days, ensuring accurate selections for green room invitations has become more important than ever. The league is expected to finalize the list shortly, rounding out one of the most anticipated nights in basketball with precision and high stakes.
