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NEW YORK – In what many consider one of the biggest secrets in sports, the Dallas Mavericks confirmed their selection of Duke standout Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft on Wednesday night.
From the time the Mavericks won the NBA Draft Lottery on May 12 until now, it seemed inevitable. However, some conspiracy theorists suggest that Flagg was destined to join the Mavericks long before that date.
Rolando Blackman of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates after NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announced the Mavericks secured the first pick in the NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
In a surprising move, Dallas traded star player Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade that also included the Utah Jazz earlier this year. In return, the Mavericks gained Anthony Davis. This has led to speculation that they might have also acquired the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to draft Flagg. This theory has been circulating online.
When asked about these theories, Flagg opted not to engage further during an interview with OutKick on Wednesday night.
“I’m not sure what to say about that,” Flagg remarked with a laugh. “I don’t have any insider info, but I feel grateful for how everything turned out.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver somewhat dismissed these conspiracy theories earlier this week, explaining on a podcast that he was informed about the Dončić trade only hours before it was public knowledge.
Duke’s Cooper Flagg reacts during a match against Houston in the second half of the NCAA Final Four on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
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“Luka is a prime example of how tight-lipped organizations can be; they don’t always give us a heads-up. While we knew about it a bit earlier, it was still just hours before the public,” Silver stated, adding that he does not have the authority to veto trades, nor would he have done so either.
Still, questions linger. What are the chances that the Mavericks would trade away their best player to the famed Los Angeles Lakers and then, just three months later, have a less than 2 percent chance of drafting a player anticipated to be a future superstar?
The answer is a mere 1.8% chance. Yet, it can happen.
However, the NBA will never openly admit to any lottery rigging, and the likelihood of such a scenario is low. Ultimately, Cooper Flagg is now part of the Dallas Mavericks and has the potential to become a leading figure in the league.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses a press conference before the NBA In-Season Tournament Finals game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on December 9, 2023. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The league really needs this, as viewer ratings are rapidly dropping. The NBA is eager for Flagg to rise as the next standout star who can attract casual fans to the sport. Whether he can achieve that goal remains uncertain.
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