The 2025 NBA Draft lottery took place on Monday night with teams hoping and praying for the No. 1 pick, which this year likely means Duke star Cooper Flagg.
Well, in a shocking turn of events, the Dallas Mavericks landed the top pick despite having just a 1.8% chance. The Mavs winning the lottery, somehow, months after trading away Luka Doncic sparked plenty of reactions, with some fans even saying the NBA rigged it for Dallas.
Yet, here we are. The Mavericks, who traded away Doncic on February 1 in a move that created plenty of controversy, now have a realistic path to bringing in Flagg as their next franchise centerpiece.
Even NBA stars reacted, including Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James who posted a series of crying emoji faces.
On Tuesday, Mavs guard Kyrie Irving had a perfect reaction on X.
1.8% 🤣🤣
— Kyrie🤞🏾 (@KyrieIrving) May 13, 2025
Irving was part of a dangerous duo with Doncic before he was traded, although Irving underwent surgery for a torn ACL, putting his 2025-26 season in jeopardy.
Still, it seems even he couldn't believe the Mavericks got the ping-pong balls to bounce in their favor on Monday night.
So, let's recap. On February 1, Mavs GM Nico Harrison traded away Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package featuring Anthony Davis. The Mavs then lost in the NBA Play-In tournament, and rumors swirled about the future of the franchise.
Now, a month removed from the end of the regular season, the Mavs win the lottery and now likely will bring in Flagg in a stunning twist.
MORE: Mavericks get franchise-changing Cooper Flagg announcement