Dallas Mavericks Defy Odds With Lottery Win After Dončić Departure
No one seriously bet on the Dallas Mavericks walking away with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Heading into lottery night, the Mavericks had a measly 1.8% shot—good for only the 12th-best odds. But somehow, when the ping-pong balls finally settled, it was Dallas sitting atop the draft pile, and the shockwaves were immediate.
This all comes just months after the Mavericks triggered disbelief across the league by trading star guard Luka Dončić—essentially the face of their franchise. Fans were furious. Social media erupted. People rushed to call the front office clueless or desperate. Yet, with this lottery windfall, the same gamble that got them skewered might give them the league’s brightest new talent: Duke’s Cooper Flagg. He’s been the consensus top high school prospect for ages now, wowing everyone with his size, skill, and swagger all year. Suddenly, Dallas goes from punching bag to privileged, with a real shot at fixing their battered roster.
Unlikely Lottery Surges Add to League Drama
It wasn’t just the Mavericks breaking the mold. The San Antonio Spurs (No. 2) and Philadelphia 76ers (No. 3) both leaped into the top three picks with their long odds. Just to give you a sense of how strange this year’s lottery got—the Wizards, Jazz, Pelicans, and Nets all ended up tumbling down into less attractive draft positions, despite sitting higher on the standings (or rather, lower in the win column). For every team that sees their future brightening overnight, another faces hard questions in front of restless fans and critical owners.
Rounding out the top four, the Charlotte Hornets managed to snag pick No. 4—a small sliver of hope for a team that’s spun its wheels too long in mediocrity. The official order for the rest of the first round, from picks 5 through 30, is still pending as league statisticians sort through tiebreakers and playoff results.
It didn’t take long for the internet to roar. Patrick Mahomes—yeah, the Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar QB—couldn’t hide his excitement as a lifelong Mavericks supporter, tweeting out his joy. Even Mark Cuban, once the team’s brash owner and now an outside observer, gave a public nod of approval to the bold management decisions he used to oversee.
Of course, all this drama has fired up debates about the legitimacy of the NBA’s lottery system. For every happy surprise, there’s someone calling for reform, especially when bottoming out doesn’t guarantee results and bold trades can flip a franchise’s luck instantly. Fans are split—is this redemption or just random chaos?
Now, all eyes are on the Mavericks' next move. With Kyrie Irving’s suffered season-ending ACL injury, the team desperately needs a new anchor. Enter Cooper Flagg—if Dallas makes him their pick, the rebuild moves at warp speed. Are they about to hit gold twice, first losing their star and then finding the next one?
