NewYou can listen to Fox News articles now!
The Dallas Mavericks have a 1.8% chance to win the NBA Draft lottery on Monday. They ignored the odds and ended the day with the first pick.
Any team's award will be former Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg. He has been considered one of the best young basketball players since he even joined the college team.
Click here for more sports coverage on FoxNews.com
The Mavericks won the No. 1 pick in the NBA basketball draft on Monday, May 12, 2025, and the Dallas Mavericks celebrated the celebration after NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum announced that the Mavericks won the No. 1 pick in the NBA basketball draft in Chicago on Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Yes)
For the Mavericks, luck is right next to them. Dallas traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February for Anthony Davis. The team still played and participated in one of eight teams that challenged the NBA championship.
The NBA world is fooled because the Mavericks can get first choice. Basketball fans talked about the “conspiracy” while LeBron James and Kevin Love added their reactions to the competition.
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts was in charge of the lottery draft when the New York Knicks won the No. 1 pick in 1985 - the theoretical suggestion was "manipulation." He said it took him four years to debunk these theories and might also need to debunk the 2025 lottery.
Archives - Duke's Cooper Flagg, #2, turned back after dunking at Terrance Arceneaux, #23, Mylik Wilson, #8 and Milos Uzan (7) in Houston, and watched the NCAA College Basketball Championship Saturday, April 5, 2025 in the National Semi-Finals in the last four games of the NCAA College Basketball Championship in the first half at the NCAA College Basketball Championship. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, file)
History of NBA Draft Lottery: Where have the Mavericks always ranked?
“I was the only person in this room and in the room,” Welters said in the Washington Post. “I was in charge of the NBA lottery when Patrick Ewing won 40 years ago. I’ve been doing conspiracy theories stories ever since. Personally, it’s very surreal.”
But Welts is excited about the chance to choose Flagg.
The San Antonio Spurs won the second pick, the Philadelphia 76ers will be third, and the Charlotte Hornets will be fourth.
Duke’s Kon Knueppel left and Cooper Flagg smiled at the NBA basketball draft on Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Yes)
Click here to get the Fox News app
After Flag, these two top prospects are considered freshmen of Rutgers' Scarlet Knights - Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Numbers Sports Reports on X And subscribe Fox News Sports Grocery Newsletter.