NBA Owners Claim Mavericks' Drafting of Cooper Flagg Was 'Fixed'

Allegations of lottery rigging swirl around Dallas' surprise No. 1 pick

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Several NBA owners have privately expressed skepticism about the Dallas Mavericks' unexpected win of the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, with two owners telling a reporter they believe the lottery was "obviously fixed" to allow the Mavericks to select highly touted prospect Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks' lottery win came just a year after the team had traded away superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a controversial late-night deal.

Why it matters

The allegations of lottery rigging, if true, would represent a major scandal for the NBA and undermine the integrity of the draft process. The Mavericks' lottery win has given the franchise renewed hope after years of struggles, but suspicions linger that the team's good fortune may have been the result of improper influence.

The details

According to ESPN's Pablo Torre, two NBA owners told him the day after the 2025 lottery that they were convinced the Mavericks' win was "obviously fixed." Many around the league have found it suspicious that the Mavericks, a team that had never jumped up in the lottery before, were able to land the top pick just a year after trading away Doncic, one of the NBA's best players. The Lakers, who acquired Doncic, were also in need of a rebuild with LeBron James nearing retirement and Anthony Davis' health concerns.

  • The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery took place in May 2025.
  • The Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers in a late-night deal in July 2024.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A highly touted prospect selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Luka Doncic

A superstar player who was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in a controversial late-night deal in 2024.

Nico Harrison

The general manager of the Dallas Mavericks who orchestrated the team's trade of Luka Doncic and subsequent win of the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.

LeBron James

A future Hall of Fame player for the Los Angeles Lakers who is nearing retirement.

Anthony Davis

A star player for the Los Angeles Lakers whose health has become a concern in recent years.

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What they’re saying

“I'll tell you that I remember I was at an event and I spoke to two NBA owners. This was the day after the NBA lottery. And those two owners were both like, this was obviously fixed.”

— Pablo Torre, ESPN Analyst (Chapo Trap House Podcast)

What’s next

The NBA has stated it will investigate the allegations of lottery rigging, though the league maintains the process is overseen by an independent auditor to ensure fairness.

The takeaway

The Mavericks' surprising lottery win has fueled suspicions of impropriety, undermining what should be a celebratory moment for the franchise. The NBA must thoroughly investigate these claims to restore confidence in the integrity of the draft process.