The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a stunning surprise on Monday night by winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. With the No. 1 overall pick now in their hands, the team is expected to draft Duke’s rising star, Cooper Flagg.
What makes this even more unbelievable is that the Mavericks had only a 1.8% chance of landing the top pick. Just three months ago, Dallas traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that shocked fans. But this lottery win now gives them a fresh start and a potential superstar.
Rick Welts Reacts to the Big Win
Dallas Mavericks CEO Rick Welts, who joined the team on January 1, 2025, was thrilled with the outcome.
“I am so happy for Mavericks fans,” Welts said. “We shocked the world with the Doncic trade in February, and now this. It’s truly a special day for Dallas.”
Welts held up the No. 1 envelope proudly and spoke about the strong connection he’s seen between the team and its fans in just a few months.
Cooper Flagg: The Likely Top Pick
Cooper Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward, has been projected as the top pick since August 2023. He graduated high school early and joined Duke as a 17-year-old freshman.
Flagg had an incredible season, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He led Duke to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance, winning nearly every major national player of the year award.
While Welts didn’t confirm Flagg would be the pick, he hinted strongly: “Every time people doubted him, he proved them wrong. His résumé is pretty strong.”
Spurs, Sixers, and Hornets Round Out Top Four Picks
Following the Mavericks, the top four picks in the draft are:
- Dallas Mavericks
- San Antonio Spurs
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Charlotte Hornets
The Spurs already have Rookie of the Year winners Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. Now, they’re ready to add another top talent.
“When you’re in the top four, you get the chance to add a really good player,” said Spurs coach Mitch Johnson.
Worst Teams Miss Out Under New Draft System
The teams with the worst records last season—Utah Jazz (17-65), Washington Wizards (18-64), and Charlotte Hornets (19-63)—had the best odds at 14%. However, they failed to get the top pick due to the new lottery system introduced in 2019, which flattens the odds to prevent teams from purposely losing games (tanking).
Here is the rest of the lottery order:
5. Utah Jazz
6. Washington Wizards
7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Brooklyn Nets
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Houston Rockets
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Atlanta Hawks
14. San Antonio Spurs (via trade)
Surprise Wins Becoming a Trend
This marks the second year in a row that a team with low odds won the lottery. In 2024, the Atlanta Hawks won with just a 3% chance. Now, Dallas follows that trend with a jump of 10 spots, the biggest in lottery history.
Strong Talent Behind Flagg: Harper and Bailey Shine
After Cooper Flagg, teams are looking closely at Rutgers freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.
Dylan Harper, a 6-foot-6 point guard, broke the freshman scoring record at Rutgers and finished as one of the top scorers in the Big Ten. Known for his excellent ballhandling, scoring, and passing, Harper is expected to go high in the draft.
Ace Bailey, his teammate, is another exciting prospect, along with:
- VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
- Tre Johnson (Texas)
- Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
- Khaman Maluach (Duke)
“This draft is really strong at the top, especially the top three,” said Daryl Morey, head of basketball operations for the 76ers. “We’re very excited.”
