Who’s the Best Big Man in the 2025 Draft?

Locked On NBA Big Board - NBA Draft Podcast

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin dive into Leif’s top big-man prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft. The discussion kicks off with Maryland’s Derik Queen, who has been stellar this season and tops Leif’s list of bigs. They break down Queen’s dominance, skill set, and why he’s earned the top spot. The conversation then moves to Duke’s Khaman Maluach. Maluach's current production, and comparison to former Duke center Dereck Lively spark a detailed discussion about his potential as a future NBA prospect. Later in the episode, they analyze Georgia freshman Asa Newell and debate whether he projects better as a four or a five at the next level, considering his frame and skill set. In the final segment, Stanford senior Maxime Raynaud’s production comes under the spotlight. While Rafael critiques his lack of rim protection, he praises Raynaud’s ability to consistently stuff the stat sheet with points, rebounds, and three-point shooting. The episode concludes with a deep dive into Auburn’s Johni Broome, who is making a strong case as one of the most dominant players in college basketball this season. Despite being projected as a late first-round or second-round pick due to his age, Rafael believes Broome has the potential to outperform his draft position and become a steal for the right team.

Timestamps:

Derik Queen - 2:26

Khaman Maluach - 13:25

Asa Newell - 19:10

Maxime Raynaud - 25:43

Johni Broome - 32:18