A basketball conspiracy enthusiast suggested there might have been a twist when the Mavericks secured the No. 1 overall pick in the May draft lottery. However, it took a different turn on Wednesday after they selected Duke player Cooper Flag.
“I don’t have insider information… I feel blessed with the way it all worked out,” Flag said when questioned about the theory suggesting the NBA gave the Mavericks the first pick in exchange for Luka Doncic being traded.
“No,” he firmly replied when faced with a peculiar question regarding rumors about the NBA favoring the Mavericks during the lottery in connection to Doncic’s trade with the Lakers.
“I don’t know what to say about that,” he continued, seeming a bit perplexed by the question. “If that’s what you’re looking for, I don’t have any inside scoop. But I feel fortunate about how everything turned out.”
It’s unclear who asked him this curious question.
Some NBA fans connected the dots after the Mavericks landed the top pick, especially given they had just a 1.8% chance of winning it. The timing of their pick also raised eyebrows in light of a surprising trade sending Doncic to the Lakers earlier in the season.
This speculation seems to have fueled some discontent, with Dallas fans even chanting “Fire Nico!” at a team draft party at the American Airlines Arena.
With Flag joining the Mavericks, the team hopes to bolster its roster alongside stars like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. After being drafted, Flag expressed his eagerness to learn: “I want to be a sponge and absorb as much knowledge as possible. I think he’s an incredible role model. He contributes on both ends of the court and brings success. I hope to learn a lot from him.”
