The Dallas Mavericks surprised many when they won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery and selected Cooper Flagg with the first pick.
This came shortly after the team traded Luka Doncic, which shocked the entire league. Acquiring another potential star so soon felt almost too fortunate.
Before the lottery, the Mavericks had just a 1.8 percent chance of winning. This has led to questions about the situation, with curiosity extending beyond just fans.
Skepticism rises over Mavericks winning Cooper Flagg
Pablo Torre, appearing on the “Chapo Trap House” podcast, noted that concerns about the lottery results go beyond online theories. Some NBA owners have expressed doubts about the outcome.
“I was at an event, and I spoke to two NBA owners the day after the lottery. Both felt it was obviously fixed,” Torre said.
“I’m not saying it was rigged for the Mavericks, but it’s not just fans doubting the process. Two NBA owners questioned whether Adam Silver had remained unbiased during the lottery.”
The series of events does raise questions. Doncic, seen as one of the top three players in the league, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package that many considered lacking. Then, just afterward, Dallas wins the lottery and secures Flagg, who was expected to be the top pick regardless. The connections seem notable. Whether the lottery was influenced is now less relevant since Adam Silver isn’t changing the outcome, and Flagg is set to play in Dallas.
The rookie has made an impact, averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He’s currently in a close competition for Rookie of the Year with his former Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel, as the 2025-26 season continues.