
The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery took an unexpected turn when the Dallas Mavericks landed the No. 1 overall pick. The Mavs team had just a 1.8% chance to win. The result stunned the basketball world and immediately fueled speculation that the lottery might have been rigged.
As the noise grew louder, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stepped in to address the controversy. Appearing on FS1’s Breakfast Ball, Silver gave a firm and detailed response to those accusing the league of manipulating the draft results. Silver also pointed to the Mavericks’ situation as an example of unpredictability, not manipulation.
“When people say, therefore, that the lottery is broken, I have a different viewpoint, which the purpose of the lottery is to disincentivize teams from tanking,” Silver said.
Adam Silver on the Dallas Mavericks winning the NBA Draft Lottery:
— Breakfast Ball (@BrkfstBallOnFS1) June 4, 2025
"They were trying to win. Then Kyrie got injured, and Anthony Davis got injured. So they found themselves in the lottery. Odds are odds and that’s how it turned out." pic.twitter.com/L7ytE1fCMY
“Here, you had a team that was clearly trying, whatever people think of that (Luka Doncic trade). They were trying to win, then Kyrie got injured, then Anthony Davis got injured, and so then they found themselves in the lottery. Odds are odds, and that’s how it turned out,” he added.
Adam Silver Confirms ‘USA vs. The World’ Format For 2026 NBA All-Star Game

Silver has confirmed a major change is coming to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. While speaking on FS1, Silver announced that the league is preparing to introduce a “USA vs. The World” format. The league has taken inspiration from a similar model used by the NHL.
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“There’ll be more Olympic events, so what better time to feature some form of USA against the world? I’m not exactly sure what the format will be yet. I mean, obviously paid a lot of attention to what the NHL did,” Silver said.
The 2026 All-Star Game is set to showcase global basketball like never before. By shifting to a “USA vs. The World” setup, the NBA aims to refresh the All-Star experience while also honoring the international influence that has become a major part of the league’s identity.
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