Mavericks Lucky in 2025 NBA Draft Lottery Draw

CHICAGO, Illinois — The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery generated excitement as the Dallas Mavericks claimed the top pick. The Mavericks, who faced a mere 1.8 percent chance to secure the No. 1 overall selection, achieved an unexpected victory during the event held on May 12.

Team records influenced the odds, with the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets each boasting the best chances at 14 percent. The other lottery picks were assigned as follows: 5. Utah, 6. Washington, 7. New Orleans, 8. Brooklyn, 9. Toronto, 10. Houston, 11. Portland, 12. Chicago, 13. Atlanta, and 14. San Antonio.

The NBA lottery involves drawing four ping pong balls from a machine filled with 14 balls. Out of 1,001 possible combinations, 1,000 correspond to the 14 participating teams based on their season records.

The process begins with a 20-second mixing of the balls before one is drawn. This is followed by another 10 seconds of mixing before the next ball is selected. The combination that emerges determines which team gets the first pick. If an unassigned combination appears, the draw is disregarded and redrawn.

After announcing the top four picks, the remaining draft slots are awarded to teams based on their regular-season standings. Notably, a team with the worst record cannot drop lower than fifth in the draft order.

As anticipation builds, fans can closely follow updates and analyses on platforms like ESPN, which is broadcasting the lottery at 7 p.m. ET. The Athletic is also engaging fans with real-time commentary and discussions on social media.

Stay tuned as the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, as Mavericks fans celebrate their team’s unexpected fortune and plan for the selection of star prospect, Cooper Flagg.