In a jaw-dropping twist at the 2025 NBA Draft lottery, the Dallas Mavericks defied their 1.8% odds to clinch the No. 1 overall pick and the right to select Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.
The atmosphere inside the McCormick Place in Chicago was thick with anticipation as ping-pong balls tumbled for the NBA’s lottery. Teams with significantly better odds watched in stunned silence as Dallas, a franchise with historically low chances, surged to the top of the reveal.
For Mavericks faithful, the moment felt like a twisting plotline straight out of a thriller. The improbable outcome instantly ignited a firestorm of conspiracy theories across social media as some netizens claimed the process was rigged, prompting CEO Rick Welts to step forward and address the swirling rumors.
Mavericks CEO Breaks His Silence After Dallas Picks Cooper Flagg
With a legacy dating back to overseeing the league’s first lottery 40 years ago when Patrick Ewing was chosen, Welts combined historical perspective with a plea for trust in the process. As Mavericks fans celebrate, the organization insists there was no manipulation.
Within hours of the lottery’s conclusion, Welts, the Mavericks’ CEO, took to the post-lottery stage to share his unique vantage point. “I’m the only person who was in this room and the room 40 years ago,” Welts declared, referencing his role in the NBA’s inaugural draft lottery when Ewing earned the No. 1 pick.
He described the moment as “very surreal,” underscoring the rarity of witnessing such an unlikely result twice in one lifetime. “I was in charge of the NBA draft lottery 40 years ago when Patrick Ewing won. I’ve been doing conspiracy theory stories ever since. This is very surreal, personally.”
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts from draft lottery: "I'm the only person who was in this room and the room 40 years ago. I was in charge of the NBA draft lottery 40 years ago when Patrick Ewing won. I've been doing conspiracy theory stories ever since. This is very surreal, personally."
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver)
Welts’ decades-long tenure in the league lends weight to his insistence that the Mavericks’ good fortune was nothing more than statistical randomness.
Dallas’ leap from the 14th-best odds to the lottery’s top spot marked the steepest climb in franchise history and one of the most improbable in lottery annals. The Mavericks concluded the 2024-25 season at 39-43 after trading away superstar Luka Dončić — an off-season move that ignited its own controversy.
Opting to rebuild, they banked on high-lottery positioning — but even the boldest optimists did not foresee the “Flagg Sweepstakes” ending with Dallas on top.
SEE MORE: 2025 NBA Mock Draft — Shocking Lottery Results Shake Up Top of the First Round
Cooper Flagg, standing at 6’9″ with a 7’3″ wingspan, showcased elite two-way skills at Duke, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists en route to a Final Four berth. The consensus No. 1 prospect has drawn comparisons to Hall-of-Famers for his blend of size, court vision, and defensive prowess.
As the Mavericks prepare to make Flagg the linchpin of their next era, Welts’ remarks serve as both reassurance and a record-setting footnote in NBA history.
For now, Mavericks supporters can bask in the glow of one of the greatest lottery upsets ever, knowing that sometimes, the wildest stories are written by pure, unfettered chance.
