Basketball fans are convinced that the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery was “rigged” for the Dallas Mavericks after they defied all odds on Monday night.
The Mavericks had a 1.8 percent chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery. But three months after trading franchise superstar Luka Doncic in an all-time stunner, Dallas fans were given a stroke of good luck, with their team winning the lottery against all odds.
Duke star Cooper Flagg is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick, meaning Dallas will have the opportunity to build around him and veteran All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis (the centerpiece of the Doncic trade).
The Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards shared the highest odds of winning the lottery with a 14 percent chance. The New Orleans Pelicans had a 12.5 percent chance, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers (10.5 percent) and Brooklyn Nets (nine percent).
With Dallas somehow winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, fans wasted no time accusing the league of “rigging” it to help them make up for the controversial Doncic trade.
“the nba is never beating the rigged allegations,” one fan said.
the nba is never beating the rigged allegations pic.twitter.com/mFitmydwoC
— csb (@itsCSB__) May 12, 2025
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“Better not hear a soul ever tell me this league not rigged lol Mavs had to sacrifice to get LAL a new star post-Bron and get rewarded with the #1 pick,” said another.
Better not hear a soul ever tell me this league not rigged lol
— Niko (@nikotaughtyou) May 12, 2025
Mavs had to sacrifice to get LAL a new star post-Bron and get rewarded with the #1 pick. pic.twitter.com/ZT7NnQqElN
“We all know the lottery is rigged but this is on a different level. Did the NBA promise them the 1st pick to get Luka to LA??” asked a fan.
We all know the lottery is rigged but this is on a different level. Did the NBA promise them the 1st pick to get Luka to LA?? pic.twitter.com/Zmvh0N0vGH
— Bryson Wright (@BrysonWright3) May 12, 2025
“Adam Silver today: 100% Priortizes Ratings Rigged for Mavs Rigged for Spurs 100% Guaranteed Flagg for Luka MIGHT AS WELL START WATCHING WWE,” wrote a user.
Adam Silver today:
— Hater Central (@TheHateCentral) May 12, 2025
100% Priortizes Ratings
Rigged for Mavs
Rigged for Spurs
100% Guaranteed Flagg for Luka
MIGHT AS WELL START WATCHING WWE 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/2nXUhe6GXH
“Adam Silver promised the Mavs the 1st Pick if they traded Luka,” remarked another.
Adam Silver promised the Mavs the 1st Pick if they traded Luka pic.twitter.com/gXxLV09G6Z
— ِ (@mcfcmo1) May 12, 2025
“So the lakers get the star player. The team that traded the star player gets the number 1 pick? I feel like I’ve seen this story before NBA is #rigged,” wrote a fan.
So the lakers get the star player. The team that traded the star player gets the number 1 pick? I feel like I’ve seen this story before
— Julio 🔜?? (@julioloveswater) May 12, 2025
NBA is #rigged pic.twitter.com/Jerd356iv5
It’s a tradition for disgruntled basketball fans to call the NBA Draft Lottery “rigged” if they’re unhappy with the outcome. This was the case with the league when the New York Knicks won the Patrick Ewing sweepstakes in 1983, and in 2023 when the San Antonio Spurs won the top pick to select Victor Wembanyama.
Winning The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery Changes Everything For The Mavericks
As baffling as the Doncic trade was at the time, Dallas at least had a solid core to build around in Irving, Davis, Klay Thompson and P.J. Washington. With Cooper Flagg (likely) joining the mix, the Mavericks have the pieces to re-emerge as a contender in the Western Conference.
