NBA Draft Lottery: Mavericks Win Top Pick

The Dallas Mavericks have secured the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft after winning the NBA draft lottery with a 1.8% chance, the 4th-largest underdog to win since 1985. This gives them the opportunity to select Duke's Cooper Flagg, the consensus top player in the 2025 draft class.

The NBA draft lottery has been held annually for 40 years, determining the order of the first few picks in the NBA draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic have landed the most top picks in the event's history, with four wins each. The weighted system introduced in the lottery gives teams at the top of the lottery slightly better chances, but the Mavericks' win shows that even the underdogs can come out on top.

Cooper Flagg, a freshman, has been considered the top player in the draft class due to his consistency, ability to lead Duke's young team, and his rapid improvement. He has been projected as a franchise player by some scouts, but others wonder if he might be more of an elite second star. The Spurs' jump to No. 2 gives them a chance to select Dylan Harper, a freshman point guard who has shown skill and shot creation ability.

The rest of the top 10 picks are as follows: Hornets - Cooper Edgecombe, Jazz - Fears, Wizards - Johnson, Pelicans - Maluach, Nets - Knueppel, Raptors - Murray-Boyles, and Rockets - Jakucionis. The second round of the draft will feature 29 additional picks, with several teams looking to add depth and talent to their rosters.

The 2025 NBA Draft will be held on June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and the Mavericks will have the first overall pick. With Flagg likely to be selected, the Mavericks have a strong chance to bolster their lineup and improve their chances of success in the upcoming season.