The NBA Draft is here, as the first round begins on Wednesday. While you might think that the draft night is all about getting suited up, with players wearing the finest of suits for an on-stage after their name gets called, if you were to ask the prospects involved, they’d tell you a different story. For the players, this is the make-or-break moment. This is when they see the results of their hard work. That is why the draft night holds a special place in every NBA star’s heart. Speaking of which, Stephen Curry was feeling a bit nostalgic ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.

So much so that even Stephen Curry couldn’t help but reflect upon the night that changed it all for the four-time NBA champ. The Dubs veteran posted an emotional clip from 2009 when he was in similar shoes as all of the 75 prospects tonight. Back then, Curry was a rather unknown skinny point guard out of Davidson, then the Warriors drafted him seventh overall, and of course, we all know how it went from there. Curry felt a bit nostalgic as he penned a heartfelt message for the youngsters. “Be open to the unexpected. Things will happen to you, and sometimes you won’t see that they’re happening for you.” He captioned the post.

The Warriors’ superstar told the prospects to be open to unexpected things. He stated that even though things might not go the way they expected, they’ve got to trust the process. “16 years in the league. Grateful for every moment. From being underrated to receiving accolades beyond my wildest dreams. To the next generation hearing their name called tonight: trust the journey. What feels uncertain now might be setting you up for something greater.” Curry used his own story as an example of how an unexpected move could lead to something beautiful.

Stephen Curry expressed that, although he did not think so on the day he was drafted into the league, he would go on to become one of the greatest players the league has ever seen, winning countless accolades along the way. It’s heartwarming to see someone as accomplished as the Golden State Warriors’ point guard send out such a meaningful message to the upcoming generation. Then again, it’s moments like these that make Stephen Curry who he is. Meanwhile, tonight’s consensus No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, is getting a lot of attention after a huge billion-dollar news story broke through.

Cooper Flagg garners a lot of attention with $1 billion news

Although the majority of the players will be feeling butterflies in their stomachs, one prospect who’ll have nothing to fear is Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in tonight’s draft and the next big thing in basketball. However, unlike most rookies who’ll get drafted into rebuilding teams where they’ve got play with a chip on their shoulder, Flagg will be heading to the Dallas Mavericks, who are a team built to win now. This means that the 18-year-old forward won’t have to do much heavy lifting, giving him much-needed time to develop and adjust to the league.

However, on being just 18 years old, Flagg’s potential isn’t just limited to the court, as he might become the first ever hooper to make a $1 billion, yes, a billion dollars on salary alone. We know, it might sound unreal, but trust us, it’s not. According to Sportrac, Flagg could reach that mark once he signs a super-max extension when he’s 32 years old. How? Well, according to Flagg’s projected earnings, he’s set to ink a whopping $62 million rookie deal, already making him better paid than some of his seniors.

Then, after signing his first supermax contract, the former Duke star can earn another $359 million. That’s not it! If Flagg is able to hang around until the age of 32, which looks highly likely, he can earn another huge payday worth around $509 million, which would put him closer to that billion-dollar mark on just salaries alone. That’s an insane amount of money! So, if he’s able to live up to the hype, the 18-year-old could soon become the highest-paid player in the league’s history. But will he? Only time will tell.