After the Dallas Mavericks beat the odds to land the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft Lottery, intense speculation quickly followed. Many believed teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, or Charlotte Hornets were more likely to come away with the top selection. As a result, growing voices now suggest that the lottery system might be rigged.
According to a recent post shared by ESPN, the NBA has seen a bizarre and suspicious trend. Four different teams made high-profile trades or lost superstars right before the NBA draft lottery and then surprisingly won it.
The pattern began in 2010 when LeBron James famously left the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat. With just a 2.8% chance in the 2011 lottery, the Cavaliers won the No. 1 pick and drafted Kyrie Irving.
After making big trades just months before the NBA draft lottery, these teams ended up winning it 🤯 pic.twitter.com/9Ta0d7PXmc
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 13, 2025
In 2011, Chris Paul was controversially traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. The very next year, in 2012, the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) won the lottery with a 13.7% chance and selected Anthony Davis.
Fast forward to 2019, Anthony Davis forced a move to the Lakers. Just before the lottery, the Pelicans again found luck, winning the top pick with only a 6% chance and selecting Zion Williamson.
Now, in 2025, after Luka Doncic’s blockbuster trade to the Lakers, the Mavericks ended up with the No. 1 pick in the draft. Four similar scenarios. Four lottery wins. The statistical improbability is too wild for many to ignore.
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NBA Fans React To Shocking Draft Lottery Pattern
The reaction from fans has been explosive across social media. Many NBA followers believe this isn’t just coincidence; rather, it’s manipulation.
“Consistently rigged,” one fan commented.
Consistently rigged
— G (@gabbott03) May 13, 2025
“It’s a private business so no surprise it’s rigged,” another chimed in.
It's a private business so no surprise it's rigged.
— XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ (@actionxander) May 14, 2025
“Literally ALL rigged,” another user echoed.
Literally ALL rigged
— Jordy P (@xcv_paul) May 14, 2025
One fan added, “The thing is that now they don’t even try to hide that it’s fake.”
The thing is that now they don’t even try to hide that it’s fake
— Another clip (@Themainclip) May 13, 2025
“What the actual fxn hell…they’re not even trying to hide the rigging,” one comment read.
what the actual fxn hell…they're not even trying to hide the rigging
— DubiousNFTLover (@DubiousNFTLover) May 14, 2025
While the NBA has never admitted to tampering with the lottery process, the pattern is drawing intense scrutiny. Whether it’s coincidence or conspiracy, the draft lottery’s credibility is once again under fire.
