Gator Nation reacts to Day 1 of 2025 NBA draft

[ASFN Admin]

The 2025 NBA draft is here, and Gator Nation is ready to see up to three Florida players drafted in this year's amateur draft.

Walter Clayton Jr. appears to be locked into a first-round selection, with many linking him to the Miami Heat at pick No. 20. Anyone can slide on draft day, but the Gators point guard is poised to be the program's first first-round selection since Tre Mann in 2021. Mann ended a near-decade-long drought for Florida after Bradley Beal went third overall in the 2012 draft.

Alijah Martin is also likely to be selected, but is a projected second-round pick, which takes place on Thursday. A scrappy defender who proved he could score consistently with Florida, Martin made his return to the Final Four and helped lead the Gators to a national championship. Richard might be on the wrong side of the bubble here, but he's going to get a phone call or two shortly if the draft concludes and he's still available.

Here's what Florida Gators experts and fans are saying about Day 1 of the 2025 NBA draft. (LAST UPDATED: 7:23 p.m. ET)

Clayton is with his family before the draft​

Walter Clayton Jr. getting draft ready with his daughter pic.twitter.com/uz0EibxsbB

— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) June 25, 2025

Fans really want him on their favorite team​

Me trying to make Walter Clayton Jr. fall to the 25th pick: pic.twitter.com/BUoX9LkOn2

— ORLmuse (@ORLmuse) June 24, 2025

Florida's point guard is a media star​

Who are Walter Clayton Jr.'s G.O.A.T.S. of the South?

He chopped it up with @TaylorRooks on the #NBADraft red carpet pic.twitter.com/STzzM7k40a

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 25, 2025

No apologies necessary​

Watched this man play in person 30+ times. Sat outside the arena for hours at a time weekly to watch this guy absolutely fry whoever he’s playing. Cant wait to watch the goat Walter Clayton Jr succeed wherever he lands tonight. Apologies for glazing. pic.twitter.com/fA9vJ1Uqxs

— JFrang (@JFRANK319) June 25, 2025

First round projections keep climbing​

Just saw a mock draft that had the Grizzlies taking Walter Clayton Jr. at 16.

— Savage (@MSavage901) June 25, 2025

Clayton will ball anywhere he lands​

WATCH: "He's going to continue being a great player no matter what team he lands on."@BartowBasketbal alum Walter Clayton, Jr. (@w1clayton) will hear his name called tonight in the NBA Draft.

Bartow is excited to see where the guy who connects everyone together will land. pic.twitter.com/Pwk7nLmr8E

— Mark Skol, Jr. (@markskoljrTV) June 25, 2025

Stay tuned for more updates​

Check back with Gators Wire as the draft continues for more social media reactions. Tag us@GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: 2025 NBA draft: Florida basketball social media reactions first round

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