BACKProspects to Hang a Hat on: 2025 NBA Draft Recap
Written by: Dallin Duffy
Here’s a nitpick of the NBA Draft: Hats don’t really go with suits. The annual showcase of newcomers is about the only place you’ll find someone rocking an eye-catchingly fancy suit along with a relaxed ball cap.
That said, it just works. More than tradition, it’s a clash of styles that signals a player’s transition to the league. At the start of the night, those suits are at the center of conversation. By the end, the only thing people care about is what team’s logo is up top.
For some prospects, the squad they landed with was no surprise. The first two stars off the board felt like locks ever since the Mavericks and Spurs topped the draft lottery in May.
Philadelphia kicked off the real fun with the No. 3 selection and handed a Sixers hat to VJ Edgecombe. Once he swaps the suit for a jersey, the two-way wing will turn heads and revitalize the roster with his high-flying credentials.
A few picks later, the Pelicans snapped up one of the snappiest dressers of the night by bringing in Jeremiah Fears. Catching cameras with his maroon Gucci suit and a chain necklace that spelled out his surname in diamonds (as the kids might say: “aura”), the sharp bucket-getter finished the look with a New Era from New Orleans.
Fans of more “traditional” suits probably liked what Khaman Maluach wore. In a parallel of his no-nonsense style of down-low dominance, the center went with a black-and-white classic that wouldn’t look out of place at a wedding. The 10th overall pick will look to secure a ring with the Suns.
Cedric Coward interrupted his all-black look with a touch of blue when he threw on a Grizzlies’ cap. Derik Queen went against the prevailing fashion theme of the night — no neckties — and knotted everything together with a Pelicans’ hat. Asa Newell shook the commissioner’s hand in a New Orleans hat, then promptly dumped it for an Atlanta one thanks to a trade that kept the University of Georgia forward in state.
The best suit-to-hat combo of the night went to Nique Clifford. Maybe he knew where he was going, or maybe it was just a coincidence. Either way, his purple-and-black look paired perfectly with the Kings’ color scheme. Sacramento traded up to add the energetic wing to the rotation.
From the red carpet to the end of the first round, the opening night of the 2025 NBA Draft let the future of the league show off their style. Summer League is around the corner, and before you know it, so will the new regular season. There, the youngsters will slip into their new jerseys and really start to flex their fashion.
