Fans โ and even NBA superstars โ arenโt buying the Mavericksโ lottery “luck.”
The NBA Draft Lottery is once again under fire โ and this time, LeBron James is at the center of the skepticism.
After the Dallas Mavericks secured the No. 1 overall pick despite just a 1.8% chance, LeBron reacted online with a series of crying-laughing emojis โ a clear sign he found the outcome more than a little suspicious.
This comes months after LeBron openly said on The Pat McAfee Show that he believes the NBA lottery has been “rigged” in key moments throughout history.
“During the lottery drop, Cleveland got the No. 1 pick,” LeBron recalled about his own 2003 draft experience.
“Patrick Ewing to the Knicks. Derrick Rose to the Bulls. I understand the assignment, guys.”
Why the Skepticism Around the Mavericks?
The Mavericksโ sudden “win” raised immediate eyebrows across the league and online:
- Dallas had just traded Luka Donฤiฤ to the Lakers earlier this year โ a blockbuster move that some believed hurt the NBAโs star power in Texas.
- Now, Dallas is rewarded with a shot at Cooper Flagg, the Duke superstar widely projected as the No. 1 pick.
- The odds? Less than 2%. Yet somehow, the Mavs struck gold.
Fans exploded across social media accusing the league of “bailing out” Dallas to repair the loss of Donฤiฤ โ and to keep fan engagement high in a key market.
Fan Reactions Pour In
NBA Twitter didnโt hold back after the lottery results dropped:
“Itโs just too perfect.”
“Adam Silver after forcing Luka to the Lakers and then making up for it by giving the Mavericks Cooper Flagg.”
“The Mavericks just got the most undeserved bailout in league history.”
While no proof exists of any wrongdoing, the timing, the odds, and the stakes have fueled the narrative that the NBAโs lottery system โ even after reforms in 2019 โ remains vulnerable to suspicion.
Whatโs Next?
With the No. 1 pick now in their hands, Dallas and general manager Nico Harrison have a massive decision to make.
- Draft Cooper Flagg, who could be the franchiseโs next centerpiece?
- Or make another controversial move that stuns the league again?
Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ improbable lottery luck โ and LeBronโs very public reaction โ guarantees that the conversation around NBA transparency isnโt going away anytime soon.
