Clippers close out first round taking player rising up draft boards

Penn State center Yanic Konan Niederhauser is the last pick of the first round of the 2025 NBA draft, having been selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 30 overall selection.

We have the full results of the first round right here.

Niederhauser transferred to Penn State in 2024 for his junior year after spending his first two college seasons at Northern Illinois. The Swiss big man had an impressive breakout season in ’24-25, averaging 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in just 25.1 minutes per game across 29 starts for the Nittany Lions.

Niederhauser shined during the pre-draft process, particularly at the G League Elite Camp — his performance there earned him an invitation to the full-fledged combine. Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report wrote earlier this month that Niederhauser was largely off NBA radars earlier in the spring but began earning late first-round consideration as a result of his performances during combine week and in workouts.

Ivica Zubac, an All-Defensive second-teamer who was also a Most Improved Player finalist this season, is the Clippers’ starting center, but the club doesn’t have a ton of depth up front behind him, with reserve center Drew Eubanks considered unlikely to return. 

While Los Angeles may have additional moves on tap to add a more experienced backup for Zubac, it’s possible there will be a path to rotation minutes for Niederhauser as a rookie.