The Dallas Mavericks certainly had a heartbreaking year after the team traded away their generational franchise player Luka Doncic, yet now it appears their luck may be turning around. That is, the Mavs made history on Monday night, when they jumped 10 spots to secure the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 Draft lottery, and this means they essentially won the sweepstakes to take top prospect Cooper Flag out of Duke.
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1.8% chance. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/QHqjP4DlR9
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 13, 2025
The official 2025 NBA Draft lottery order:
1. Mavs
2. Spurs
3. Sixers
4. Hornets
5. Jazz
6. Wizards
7. Pelicans
8. Nets
9. Raptors
10. Rockets (via Suns)
11. Trail Blazers
12. Bulls
13. Hawks (via Kings)
14. Spurs (via Hawks) pic.twitter.com/FkPdrcmNWq— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 12, 2025
Former Cleveland Cavaliers 2003 No. 1 overall draft pick, LeBron James, responded to the shocking news.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 12, 2025
Considering the probability of this happening was listed at 1.8%, and the fact the Mavs won a coin toss with the Chicago Bulls to even hold the 11th pick, is leading fans to believe the draft is "rigged."
The draft lottery has always been rigged
- LeBron to Cavs
- Rose to Bulls
- Lakers top pick to draft Lonzo
- Pelicans compensated with Zion for trading AD to Lakers
- Mavs compensated with Flagg for trading Luka to Lakers
- Spurs draft another generational big, Wemby pic.twitter.com/DWZUECLRuS— clippa twitta (@clipfullyloaded) May 13, 2025
Which explanation is simpler:
Mavs organization thinks it’s a good idea to trade their superstar Luka Doncic, who just took them to the NBA Finals, and gets lucky winning the lottery with a 1.8% chance?
Or the NBA wanted Luka in LA and rewarded Dallas with the number 1 pick 🤷🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/uwM3Fh05rz
— Christian Odjakjian (@OdjHoops) May 12, 2025
RIGGED!!!
Mavs had 1.8% chance to win. This was all part of the plan. Luka to LA where the NBA wanted him, and then gifted Dallas Cooper Flagg back for agreeing to the deal. pic.twitter.com/CrcKkx0vwY
— Ute Nation Alum (@UteNationAlum) May 12, 2025
All in all, it's a big boost of morale for Mavericks fans, considering they are set to receive highly sought after Cooper Flagg.
A NEW TRIO IN DALLAS?
The Mavs have a chance to capture the Flagg with the No. 1 pick 🔥 pic.twitter.com/M12Y2xxmyQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 12, 2025
After clinching the No. 1 overall pick, GM Nico Harrison and organization members shouted for joy.
Nico Harrison’s reaction to getting the #1 draft pick 💀
Bro pretending to be surprised 😭😭
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) May 13, 2025
“And REMEMBER, you have to record yourselves celebrating like you’re surprised or the deal is off” pic.twitter.com/UsbDAUxhmW
— Joe-W Embiid (@LockCity_USA) May 13, 2025
One fan on X wrote: "S*** just got real in Dallas. I don't care if people think the lottery was rigged. Mavs fan base deserves this shit! This season was torture."
https://t.co/CDSOFriEes pic.twitter.com/Vx8oclB5ba
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) May 12, 2025
To point out, this isn't the first time something like this went down.
Notably, the Pelicans were able to draft Zion Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, after Anthony Davis was held out of games at the end of the 2018-2019 season and then traded to the Lakers.
Then, in 2011, the Pelicans traded Chris Paul to the Clippers right before the start of the season, and this eventually led to the franchise finishing with the third-worst record in the NBA, letting them secure the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Anthony Davis.
Now, in 2025, Duke star Flagg will be teaming up with Davis and Kyrie Irving, in what is projected to be a dominant "Big 3" in Dallas.
does tonight prove that the draft lottery is rigged for whoever helps the biggest market get the biggest stars? pels got the #1 after ad to lakers. nola hornets got #1 after cp3 to la. mavs got the #1 pick after trading luka to lakers. proof of rigging? pic.twitter.com/ImcjWNIBT4
— LeCorb (@LakeShowUp) May 13, 2025
"I am so happy for Mavericks fans," Dallas CEO Rick Welts said. "I only got to Dallas Jan. 1 this year. Feb. 1, we broke the internet [because of the Luka Doncic trade]. I am just amazed at the depth of emotion and connection that the fan base has with this team. And what happened today, I can't imagine a better day for Mavs fans. It's going to really be something special. I can't wait to get back to Dallas."
