It seems that the belief that the 2025 NBA Draft lottery was rigged extends beyond just the fans.
Some team owners are feeling the same way.
During an appearance on the podcast *Chapo Trap House*, investigative podcaster Pablo Torre mentioned that two NBA owners expressed their doubts about the lottery. They believed it was set up for the Dallas Mavericks to select Duke star Cooper Flagg as the top pick.
“I remember being at an event after the NBA lottery, talking to two owners who both said, ‘This has definitely been fixed,’” Torre shared.
He added, “These owners placed their trust in Adam Silver, skipping the legal channels usually involved in influencing the NBA Draft Lottery.”
Shortly after general manager Nico Harrison’s puzzling trade that sent fan-favorite Luka Doncic to the Lakers, the Mavericks surprisingly secured the No. 1 pick.
While it seemed improbable—given their 1.8 percent chance of winning—the Mavericks still ended up drafting Flagg.
Some felt it was merely luck, while others thought it was a bit too good to be true.
Barstool Sports personality Dan “Big Cat” Katz voiced his criticism: “Nico Harrison should not be allowed this nomination. He needs to be released before the draft. Good for Mavs fans, I suppose. They deserve this, but Nico doesn’t.”
Even LeBron James reacted, posting some laughing emojis to X in response to the news.
While Torre noted that the two owners he spoke to were speculating, it highlights that skepticism is widespread, not just among fans.
In recent years, the NBA has adjusted its lottery odds. The worst three teams now share an equal chance of landing the No. 1 pick at 14%, while other non-playoff teams see their odds lowered to discourage tanking.
Interestingly, despite slim chances, both the Mavericks and the Hawks secured top picks in 2025 and 2024, respectively, with Atlanta only having a 3% probability.
In his rookie season, Flagg showed exceptional talent. After winning National Player of the Year at Duke, he averaged 20.4 points and 6.6 rebounds on 48.2% shooting for Dallas.
Though the Mavericks are seven games away from playoff contention, Flagg’s impressive play gives some hope for a franchise that seemed lost after Doncic’s departure last year.
Yet, many remain skeptical about how Flagg found his way to Texas.
