With only 1.8% odds, Mavericks make biggest jump in NBA lottery and secure Duke phenom Cooper Flagg to revive their draft

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Dallas rallies after Dončić's departure to take coveted No. 1 draft pick

In a move that no one saw coming, the Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world by winning the top spot in the NBA draft, just three months after trading their star Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. With just 1.8 percent odds, the Texas franchise moved up ten spots to take the coveted No. 1 pick, the biggest jump in lottery history according to ESPN Research.

The name that will join Dallas on 26 June is Cooper Flagg, the 2.06m wing for the Duke Blue Devils. Flagg has been the favourite to go No. 1 since he announced his high-school senior year at just 17, and in his first year of college he confirmed it by averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists, while leading Duke to the Final Four and earning every national rookie award.

‘This is unbelievable for Mavericks fans,’ Mavs CEO Rick Welts celebrated as soon as he opened the No. 1 envelope. ’I've only been in Dallas since January and I've already seen the passion for this team. I can't imagine a better day for our fans today - this is going to be very special!’.

Dallas' night of renewed excitement came in contrast to the earthquake that was the departure of Dončić months ago, a decision that divided the locker room and the fans. But the organisation has shown its resilience: in just a few hours, it erased the critics with a coup worthy of the best NBA novels.

The draft podium will be completed by San Antonio at number 2 - after the triumphs of Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, the Spurs once again have an unbeatable scenario to try for a big signing -, Philadelphia at number 3 and Charlotte at number 4. Utah and Washington, despite signing the two worst records of last season, were left out of the top four.

Beyond Flagg, the 2025 draft features an array of young talent that promises to shake up the market: Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, both from Rutgers, are in contention for the not inconsiderable fifth spot. Harper, a 1.98m playmaker, broke scoring records in his freshman season and dazzled in the Big Ten, while Bailey, an athletic wing from Baylor, adds dynamism and power to the roster.

The exotic mix of prospects also includes VJ Edgecombe (Baylor), Tre Johnson (Texas), Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma) and Khaman Maluach (Duke), names that the top teams will be studying closely before the night of 25 June at the Barclays Center. Daryl Morey, the Sixers' president of operations, made no secret of his enthusiasm: ’This draft is loaded with talent at the top of the draft. We're very excited.

For Dallas, Flagg's arrival will mean more than just reinforcement: he is the spark that should reignite a project after Dončić's departure. With a young roster and an ambitious coach, the Mavericks will once again be in the short term window of the top contenders.

The 2025 draft, which will be held in two rounds on 25 and 26 June in Brooklyn, marks the beginning of an unprecedented era in Dallas. Fans are already dreaming of glory nights, new dynasties and, perhaps, the promise of basketball's brightest future coming through Texas. And all thanks to an improbable twist of fate: the greatest leap in NBA lottery history.