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The Dallas Mavericks might have been the laughingstock of the NBA when they traded away Luka Doncic, but no one is laughing now. The team won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft after entering the night with just a 1.8% chance. It seems like Duke star Cooper Flagg will be headed to the Lone Star State.
Outside of Dallas, the top-14 picks were filled with surprises. Most notably, of the three teams with the highest chance of earning the No. 1 overall pick — the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets — only one, Charlotte, wound up with a top-four pick. The Jazz and Wizards fell at 5 and 6, respectively.
Here’s the full results from tonight’s 2025 NBA draft lottery:
*Teams are listed in order of 2025 draft position
Dallas MavericksSan Antonio SpursPhiladelphia 76ersCharlotte HornetsUtah JazzWashington WizardsNew Orleans PelicansBrooklyn NetsToronto RaptorsHouston RocketsPortland Trail BlazersChicago BullsAtlanta HawksSan Antonio Spurs
Dallas’ 1.8% odds to earn the No. 1 pick are certainly shocking, but it’s happened before. In 1993, the Orlando Magic had just a 1.52% chance to earn the first pick. The Magic selected Chris Webber with the pick, who was promptly traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a flurry of first-round picks as well as Penny Hardaway, who wound up forming a dynamic duo with Shaquille O’Neal.
The 2014 Cleveland Cavaliers were similarly blessed, earning the top pick with just a 1.7% chance. Much like Orlando, the Cavaliers would actually trade No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for established All-Star forward Kevin Love. Love would play a pivotal role in Cleveland’s championship run in 2016.
What time is the NBA Draft lottery?
The 2025 NBA draft lottery will be held on Monday, May 12 in Chicago and will be broadcast beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
How to watch NBA Draft lottery: TV channel and streamDate: Monday, May 12 Time: 7 p.m. ETTV: ESPNStream: Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
Watch the NBA Draft lottery with Fubo
Percent chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft:
Utah Jazz: 14%Washington Wizards: 14%Charlotte Hornets: 14%New Orleans Pelicans: 12.5%Philadelphia 76ers: 10.5% (pick may be conveyed to Oklahoma City if it falls outside of the top six)Brooklyn Nets: 9%Toronto Raptors: 7.5%San Antonio Spurs: 6%Phoenix Suns: 3.8% (Pick to Houston via Brooklyn)Portland Trail Blazers: 3.7%Dallas Mavericks: 1.8%Chicago Bulls: 1.7%Sacramento Kings: 0.8% (pick may be conveyed to Atlanta if it’s not in the top 12)Atlanta Hawks: 0.7% (pick to San Antonio)
The three teams with the best odds – the Jazz, Wizards and Hornets – all have a 52.1% chance of landing a top-four pick.
The do-it-all young star led the Blue Devils in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. Flagg has outstanding footwork, especially in the low post. He can use either hand on shots in the paint, knows how to run plays, can hit catch-and-shoot 3s and is an active weakside defender. Flagg, who added more muscle since the start of the year, is a physical player who initiates contact, is confident and plays with force when necessary. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks and shot 48.1% from the field, 38.5% on 3-pointers and 84% on free throws. − Jeff Zillgitt
Cooper Flagg, who played his freshman season at Duke and was the national player of the year, has been at the top of draft boards for a year.
According to the NBA, “Fourteen ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14 will be placed in a lottery machine. There are 1,001 possible combinations when four balls are drawn out of 14, without regard to their order of selection. Before the lottery, 1,000 of those 1,001 combinations will be assigned to the 14 participating lottery teams.All 14 balls are placed in the lottery machine and they are mixed for 20 seconds, and then the first ball is removed. The remaining balls are mixed in the lottery machine for another 10 seconds, and then the second ball is drawn. There is a 10-second mix, and then the third ball is drawn. There is a 10-second mix, and then the fourth ball is drawn. The team that has been assigned that combination will receive the No. 1 pick. The same process is repeated with the same ping-pong balls and lottery machine for the second through fourth picks.”
This year’s NBA Draft Combine is scheduled for May 11-18 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Prospects will undergo a series of anthropometric and physical measurements and tests in order to give NBA scouts an idea of what they can expect from them once they reach the NBA.
The measurements/tests will include:
HeightWeightWingspanHand sizeVertical jumpBench pressLane agility
Round 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft is set for Wednesday, June 25. It will air on both ABC and ESPN. Round 2 will take place a day later on Thursday, June 26.
Individuals with ties to the respective franchise often represent teams in the lottery. Here is who will be at the draft lottery tonight.
Brooklyn Nets: Jordi Fernandez, head coachCharlotte Hornets: Charles Lee, head coachChicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis, playerDallas Mavericks: Rolando Blackman, team ambassadorHouston Rockets: Hakeem Olajuwon, Rockets Hall of FamerNew Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, playerPhiladelphia 76ers: Jared McCain, playerPortland Trail Blazers: Toumani Camara, playerSacramento Kings: Keon Ellis, playerSan Antonio Spurs: Mitch Johnson, head coachToronto Raptors: Masai Ujiri, vice chairman and team presidentUtah Jazz: Ashley Smith, co-ownerWashington Wizards: Bub Carrington, player
The drawing room is where the draft lottery is actually conducted, separate from the broadcast stage. Individuals there are sequestered with no e-devices such as phone, laptop or tablet. Here is a list of representatives that will be welcomed into the drawing room Monday.
Brooklyn Nets: Makar Gervorkian, VP of basketball operations alignment and strategic planningCharlotte Hornets: Rich Schnall, co-owner and governorChicago Bulls: Faizan Hasnany, manager basketball strategy and analyticsDallas Mavericks: Matt Riccardi, assistant general managerHouston Rockets: Sam Strantz, senior team counselNew Orleans Pelicans: Joe Dumars, executive vice presidentOklahoma City Thunder: Sam Presti, executive vice president and general managerPhiladelphia 76ers: Ned Cohen, assistant general managerPortland Trail Blazers: Andrae Patterson, assistant general managerSacramento Kings: Alvin Gentry, vice president of basketball engagementSan Antonio Spurs: Brian Wright, general managerToronto Raptors: Bobby Webster, general managerUtah Jazz: Justin Zanik, general managerWashington Wizards: Will Dawkins, general manager
Contributing: Jeff Zillgitt, Steve Gardner
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