Sunday, June 29, 2025
Home Basketball Adam Silver gives no-nonsense explanation to Dallas Mavericks landing 'one in a...

Adam Silver gives no-nonsense explanation to Dallas Mavericks landing ‘one in a million’ No. 1 lottery pick 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver explained why the Dallas Mavericks won the No. 1 lottery pick this year. He shot down any speculation that irregularities took place in the process.

Ad

In his appearance on the “Breakfast Ball” program on Fox Sports 1 on Wednesday, the NBA executive reiterated that what took place in the lottery was the whole system fully taking effect and nothing else.

“We call it a lottery, and I think, sometimes because it’s a lottery, people think it must have been a one-in-a-million chance that Dallas was going to win,” Silver said.

Ad

"Remember, the worst performing team had a 14% chance of winning, which means there was an 86% chance they wouldn’t get it. Dallas had roughly a 2% chance. So, the losingest team had a 7x better chance," he added.

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

He further explained that the reason for the lottery system was to discourage teams from tanking to get a better chance at getting the top pick in the NBA draft. It is something that just worked for the Mavericks:

Ad

“Two percent is two percent. It’s gonna happen. When people say, ‘Therefore, the lottery is broken,’ I have a different view. I say it’s to disincentivize teams from tanking.

"So here you had a team that was clearly trying — whatever people think of that trade — they were trying to win. Then Kyrie [Irving] got injured. Then Anthony Davis got injured. So, they found themselves in the lottery. Odds are odds and that’s how it turned out.”

Ad

Ad

The Utah Jazz (17-65), Washington Wizards (18-64) and Charlotte Hornets (19-63) entered the lottery draw with the best odds at 14%. The Jazz and Wizards wound up outside of the top four, selecting No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.

After Dallas at No. 1, selecting next are the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Hornets.

The Dallas Mavericks winning the lottery came after they took tremendous flak for trading Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers for a package that included Anthony Davis around the trade deadline in February.

Ad

Dallas Mavericks widely seen to use top pick on collegiate star Cooper Flagg

The Dallas Mavericks are widely expected to use their No. 1 pick on Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg.

Flagg, a 6-foot-9 do-it-all forward, has emerged as the front-runner to be the top pick in the draft after his solid play in his lone season with the Blue Devils.

Ad

He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists to lead Duke to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance while also being named the national college player of the year.

NBA: Draft Combine - Source: Imagn
NBA: Draft Combine - Source: Imagn

In Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks will look to add another key piece as they move on from the Doncic era.

Mavericks Fan? Check out the latest Dallas Mavericks depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.

Quick Links

Edited by Veer Badani
RELATED ARTICLES

“Most of those guys I beat on in high school” – Pelicans’ Derik Queen makes bold statement after fans slam front office for bold draft day trade

Maryland center Derik Queen is looking to prove his doubters wrong after the New Orleans Pelicans traded for him in the recent NBA draft. He is confident that he can deliver from his end despite the move being slammed by fans. Queen, 20, was selected 13th in this year's draft by the Atlanta Hawks but

NBA Free Agency Rumors: Lakers plot aggressive move for towering 7-foot-1 ex-NBA champ to solve center problem

The LA Lakers are expected to go all-in to address a glaring need on their roster ahead of the 2025–26 NBA season. With a significant void at the center position, GM Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office are actively searching for a reliable, starting-caliber big man and one prominent name emerging on their radar

Top 5 elite perimeter defenders Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors can target after insider reveals franchise’s desire

The Golden State Warriors are going to be limited this offseason when it comes to signing free agents. Their top two stars, Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, are earning $54 million each, with Draymond Green, Moses Moody and Buddy Hield also having high salaries. According to Warriors insider Monte Poole, Mike Dunleavy Jr. and company

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -

Most Popular

“Most of those guys I beat on in high school” – Pelicans’ Derik Queen makes bold statement after fans slam front office for bold draft day trade

Maryland center Derik Queen is looking to prove his doubters wrong after the New Orleans Pelicans traded for him in the recent NBA draft. He is confident that he can deliver from his end despite the move being slammed by fans. Queen, 20, was selected 13th in this year's draft by the Atlanta Hawks but

NBA Free Agency Rumors: Lakers plot aggressive move for towering 7-foot-1 ex-NBA champ to solve center problem

The LA Lakers are expected to go all-in to address a glaring need on their roster ahead of the 2025–26 NBA season. With a significant void at the center position, GM Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office are actively searching for a reliable, starting-caliber big man and one prominent name emerging on their radar

Meet Carson Branstine, the 24-year-old model who graduated from Texas A&M and will take on Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon 2025

24-year-old Carson Branstine is set to make her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon 2025. She successfully qualified for the tournament and will lock horns with World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the first round. She beat Lois Boisson, this year's French Open semifinalist, former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, and Raluca Georgina Serban in the

“Aryna Sabalenka didn’t mean to disrespect Coco Gauff” – Novak Djokovic makes his position clear on duo’s French Open controversy

Novak Djokovic recently weighed in on the controversy between Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, which erupted in the aftermath of the pair's clash in the women's singles final of the 2025 French Open. Sabalenka made a couple of disparaging remarks about Gauff after losing the final to the American. Later, Gauff dismissed the Belarusian's take.

Recent Comments