Posted on 02/21/2026 8:22:28 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
Fans aren’t the only ones that believe the 2025 NBA Draft lottery was rigged.
Some owners share that sentiment, too.
In an appearance on the “Chapo Trap House” podcast, investigative podcaster Pablo Torre said two owners told him at the event that they believe the lottery was fixed for the Mavericks to draft Duke standout Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick.
“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,’” Torre said.
“I’m saying literally two NBA owners did not trust the hand of Adam Silver to remain out of the proceedings, in terms of rigging the NBA draft lottery,” he added.
Dallas secured the No. 1 choice just a few months after a puzzling trade in which general manager Nico Harrison sent franchise icon Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
But with only a 1.8 percent chance of winning the lottery, the Mavericks earned the right to draft Flagg.
It could’ve simply been luck, but many fans thought it seemed too good to be true.
“Nico Harrison should not be allowed to make this pick,” Barstool Sports personality Dan “Big Cat” Katz wrote. “He needs to be fired before the draft. I’m happy for Mavs fans, they deserve this, Nico does not.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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Look at the previous instances.
I understand why everyone’s gaga about a standout white player, but why the Mavericks? Why was it so important that he land there?
I complain every time I lose the lottery.
Everything about the NBA is rigged, from the non-calls to the non-contact foul calls for the all-star players. Why should anyone be surprised that they would rig the lottery?
I suppose the theory is that the league wanted the Lakers to get better, so this was the league's back door payment to the Mavericks for trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
I don't buy it personally, but that would be the theory.
Interesting that three of the best players in the league right now are white — Jokic, Doncic, and now Flagg. And arguably, the first two are the two best players in the entire NBA. Probably not even arguable with respect to Jokic being the best.
Jokic and Doncic are Europeans. Dirk Nowitzki was well-known and even won a championship playing for Dallas Mavericks. But they’re not exactly household names.
Plus, he drives chariots in the off-season. How cool is that?
So they're not popular like Magic Johnson or Larry Bird when they were playing in the '80s. Or at least in USA.
Love watching him play, though.
I believe the reason was the Luca Doncic trade from Dallas to the LA Lakers.
Overall, the TV ratings are much better for the NBA when LA and Boston are top tier teams with a Superstar in the lineup.
LeBron James was passed his prime and LA was not a championship contender, what better way to enhance the Lakers than to trade Luca Doncic from Dallas to LA in exchange for Anthony Davis who is an over the hill aging player who is always injured.
In exchange for giving up Doncic the Mavericks were handed the top draft choice so they could draft Cooper Flagg.
No state income taxes?
Umm, think you missed one, SGA is not white....
He was the # 41 Draft Pick in 2014.
Possibly the greatest Draft Steal of All Time.
On the flip side, he was just 19 years old, so a lot of things could have gone wrong with that pick, but did not.
He's why I said "arguably top 2". I do think Jokic is the best player in the league, but you could certainly argue for SGA as No. 2 over Doncic. Tougher to tell with SGA simply because the rest of that team is so leaded.
I think so - probably not even close. I do give his former coach a lot of credit for spotting Joker's unique talent, and building an offense around a "point center". I think a lot of other coaches would have tried to force him into a more conventional center role. But Malone figured out what he had, and built that unique offense around Joker to take advantage of his talents.
Also remarkable given how "unathletic" Joker is, at least in the traditional sense. But like Larry Bird, he's got great footwork, very fast hands, and ridiculous hand-eye coordination.
I haven’t paid attention to the NBA since the Lakers’ “Showtime” era, and again when the Bulls were fabulous and I was living in Chicago. But a few weeks back Youtube began suggesting Jokic compilations. He’s a one-man highlight reel! And have you seen that Japanese fellow, Kawamura? I think he’s with the Bulls.
Quid Pro Quo for trading Luka to the Lakers.
Plus the Mavericks want to move to Vegas.
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