NBA Draft Lottery 2025: Dallas Mavericks Are Back On The Map And NBA Made Sure of It
They say time doesn’t stay the same, and Dallas is living proof.
Just a few months ago, Mavericks fans were reeling. Luka Doncic, their homegrown superstar and face of the franchise, was shockingly traded to the Lakers in a midseason blockbuster. The team collapsed soon after, bowing out in the Play-In Tournament. Over in the WNBA, things weren’t any better. The Dallas Wings finished dead last. No playoffs. No hope. Just pain.
But in the span of a single month, everything flipped.
On Monday night, the Dallas Mavericks won the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft with just a 1.8% chance. A month earlier, the Dallas Wings got the No. 1 pick, Paige Bueckers. That’s two No. 1 picks for a city that couldn’t buy a win a month ago.
What. A. Time. To. Be. A. Dallas. Fan.
Another Lottery “Coincidence”?
As you would expect, not everyone is buying the feel-good story.
When the Mavericks’ logo popped up in the top spot, fans across the league immediately lit up social media with one word: “Rigged.” Why? Because it’s not the first time a team has gotten insanely lucky in the draft lottery right after trading away a superstar.
Let’s break it down:
2011: LeBron leaves Cleveland. Cavs win the lottery. Draft Kyrie.
2012: Hornets trade Chris Paul. Win the lottery. Draft Anthony Davis.
2019: Pelicans trade AD to the Lakers. Win the lottery. Draft Zion.
2025: Mavericks trade Luka. Have a 1.8% chance. Somehow win the lottery.
And now Dallas is set to draft Cooper Flagg, the most hyped prospect since Zion Williamson, just months after shipping out Luka.
You seriously can’t make this stuff up.
Also Read: How NBA Draft Lottery Works?
LeBron James Reacts to Mavericks Getting No. 1 pick in NBA Draft
Of course, the NBA swears by the integrity of the lottery. The process is done behind closed doors, with observers and a set of randomly drawn number combinations. No funny business, they claim.
But that hasn’t stopped the fans from creating a narrative. The league’s small-market luck, superstar exit timing, and drama-filled arcs keep giving people reasons to believe in the “frozen envelope” theory.
Even LeBron James jumped into the chaos, posting laughing emojis as the Mavs secured the top pick. Maybe this was a nod to what many feel is too convenient to ignore.
At this point, some fans are calling it the “NBA Karma Compensation Package.” Lose your star, get a shot at the next one.
Regardless of what you believe, one thing is clear: Dallas just flipped the script.
They now hold the No. 1 picks in both the NBA and WNBA Drafts. They have a clean slate, a young core, and a shot at rebooting two franchises in desperate need of a spark.
Dallas is back on the map. And this time, they’re picking first.
EN 
ES