NBA Draft Drip Check: Asa Newell is ice cold, Cooper Flagg is a boss

The fashion theme for the 2025 NBA Draft had to be: “If you know, you know.” 

The event was on Wednesday, less than a week after the Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA Finals with some great looks of their own. Fans were eager to see how the next generation of talent carry the torch.

While most draft hopefuls went with a classic suit and subtle or no accessories, there are a few athletes who put a lot of thought into meshing symbolism and their fits. If it’s choosing color to represent the school that got them to the draft or allowing a brother who has a better pulse on trends to put together a monochromatic look, fashion on the NBA Draft red carpet had a story. 

But it’s not just the athletes that deserve accolades. The designers who dress the stars continue to impress us with their dedication to the authenticity of each athlete and their personal style. Whether it’s a classic look or one that some might raise an eyebrow because critics don’t “know,” the 2025 NBA Draft helps give the athletes a voice beyond the court.

Here's the 2025 NBA Draft Drip Check:

Cooper Flagg is a boss

The No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, went to the Dallas Mavericks in a classic Boss three-piece suit in navy blue. Flagg is the newest addition to an impressive list of top athletes (Shohei Ohtani, David Beckham, Matteo Berrettini) who represent the new “Be Your Own Boss” lifestyle campaign of Hugo Boss. The brand also provided the NFL Draft’s No. 1 overall pick, Cam Ward, with his outfit. To complete his look, Flagg chose a black velvet Louboutin loafer and black tie. But the pièce de résistance was his sparkly Hublot watch.

Tre Johnson turns heads in shorts

When we say “If you know, you know,” there is no look at the 2025 NBA Draft that embodies it more than the No. 6 pick, Tre Johnson. Wearing a navy shorts suit, crisp white shirt, black tie, scrunched socks and tasseled Doc Martens, Johnson was right in line with some of today's top trendsetters like Tyler, The Creator and A$AP Rocky. He may have come straight from the Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring-Summer 2026 show in Paris. Either that, or maybe Pharrell is his secret stylist.

*cue the Pusha T song

Jeremiah Fears is seeing red

Jeremiah Fears honored his coaches at Oklahoma by choosing a burgundy Gucci double G fit. Fears was a showstopper in his chains by Al the Jeweler — "0" was his number at OU and "Fears" to honor his name. The No. 7 pick kept his look chill on the red carpet in Louis Vuitton sunglasses with blue lenses.

VJ Edgecombe rocks best monochromatic look

When it comes to the all-black look, we think the No. 3 pick, VJ Edgecombe, did it best on draft night. Edgecombe credited his brother, who designed the entire black fit with the Bahamian colors of yellow and blue at his wrists. He wore YSL shoes and borrowed his brother’s Prada sunglasses for the red carpet. To finish the look, he donned pearls and diamonds from Jason of Beverly Hills.

Asa Newell is ice cold

Asa Newell stole the show in his fit where everything blended together impeccably. The No. 23 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft stood out in a look by Brian Alexander Bespoke featuring an iridescent lavender silk double breasted suit with mother of pearl buttons. A pale blue shirt added dimension. He topped it off with white Louis Vuitton sneakers and a constant smile throughout the evening, but his favorite accessory? A pearl (and opal) bracelet that truly complemented his suit perfectly.