The OFFICIAL "Was the 2025 NBA draft rigged?"

[Sasaki]

This is crazy, but there are a couple holes to poke in the rigged conspiracy. If Kyrie and AD didn't get injured, Mavs probably make the playoffs, though not guaranteed. Also, why did they win their first play in game vs Sacramento, knowing that if they missed the playoffs they would get the number 1 pick? I suppose this could've been part of covering the conspiracy to make it look like they tried to make the playoffs. Thats all I can think of to debunk conspiracy.

Are the games rigged themselves? Probably not.

Is the draft lottery rigged? Yeah, who the **** knows now.

[Sharcm1]

I’m not usually a conspiracy theorist but come on… for this to happen? From the Luka trade with no value for the Mavs and to the Lakers of all teams then for the Mavs with barely any odds to win?? It’s damn near impossible for all that to happen

And yet it did. 1.8 percent chance. Come on

[littlerock2277]

I am firm believer now they need to change this lottery format and show the world how the lottery process goes live. It’s the only way I will ever believe this crap is never rigged.

So angry, league really wants the all your future stars in the west? Like damn send some of these franchise changing prospects out east more.

[NyKnicks1714]

The NBA actually went full WWE here and made it so obvious that it's rigged, I'm fairly shocked that they did this so openly.

There was clearly some kind of deal made where the Mavs surrender Luka for literal peanuts to the Lakers in exchange for Cooper Flagg. I mean, if anyone was still on the fence about this stuff this should solidify it for you. If you still don't believe it's rigged after this you will never believe it.

I would be more open to it if one person who claims it's rigged could read about the lottery process and explain to me the actual dynamics of how it can reasonably be rigged. But no one has ever been able to do that. (And that's not even mentioning how many people would need to be involved to keep it secret and how the blowback for both the NBA and Ernst and Young would be so much more costly than any gain they get from rigging it.)

[Myth]

If people believe the nba is this rigged in the lottery, it is time for the lottery to go. It isn’t ideal, and yeah tanking sucks, but maybe just give the worst team #1, 2nd worst #2, etc. At least it is transparent and fair.

[ryguy613]

just curious, does anyone know what the mavs odds of winning this pick were?

1.8%

...goddamn dude. Ive been a arguing pretty adamantly that NBA rigging conspiracy theories are fun but dumb. I really dont wanna change that stance but sometimes the NBA makes it hard.

Heres my pushback. Wish me luck on this one... So, to believe that this was rigged we would have to believe Mavs ownership already knew the team would be in the lottery. At the time of the trade, it was widely believed the Mavs would be a top 6 seed. They really only fell out of the playoff picture after the Kyrie injury. So do people really believe that either A. the injury was fake or B. without that injury the team was lottery bound?

[ShotCreator]

How about this. NBA wanted luka in la to replace lebron. That’s why the trade happens and they promise Dallas number 1 in return.

I don't believe this, but I genuinely want a federal investigation just to clear my mind of this theory. Because it's really bothering me at this point. This is just unthinkable. These whole past 4 months.

[sisibilio]

Has a team ever jumped that far to win the lottery?

Bulls to pick Rose

[Tim Lehrbach]

Obviously not rigged, but I voted yes because ME BIG ANGRY.

[damedash09]

How about this. NBA wanted luka in la to replace lebron. That’s why the trade happens and they promise Dallas number 1 in return.

This is what happened. Lakers get the lebron star ahead of him hanging it up.dallas gets Luka replacment

[He_Got_Game]

You can’t say it’s rigged AFTER the result. I didn’t see anyone saying they were going to rig for Dallas an hour ago. We’ve seen teams move up before. It’s not some new occurrence. The Pelicans moved up for Zion. Was that rigged too?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nobody said this because nobody thought the NBA would do this so OPENLY. That is the shocking part about this.

[scottyno]

The NBA is a formal cartel between the team owners, not some separate organisation independent of them. What's the incentive for most of them to agree to rigging the lottery?

Luka to the Lakers makes them money

Their teams getting Flagg would make them a lot more money.... Luka to the Lakers probably makes them very little more money

[Rainwater]

NBA doesn't have much incentive to rig...its already a huge billion dollar business and already secured big contract for next 10 years. Its not some startup trying to sruvive. If anything, you'd think Silver not want Mavs get 1 pick just so that ppl wouldn't think it is rigged...also from what I understand, the process is run by E&Y...I doubt a reputed firm like E&Y would wanna risk its reputation by rigging stuff like this

The NBA really gained nothing from this. It just makes no sense from a business perspective for Flagg to go to Dallas. If anything, the NBA would want him to go to Washington, Char, or Utah or freaking Brooklyn.

[He_Got_Game]

its rigged and we'll still watch

THIS. Look, I know this is rigged as all hell but I'll still watch... For now.

[The Master]

Heres my pushback. Wish me luck on this one... So, to believe that this was rigged we would have to believe Mavs ownership already knew the team would be in the lottery. At the time of the trade, it was widely believed the Mavs would be a top 6 seed. They really only fell out of the playoff picture after the Kyrie injury. So do people really believe that either A. the injury was fake or B. without that injury the team was lottery bound?

Yeah, they were literally a game away from the playoffs. If Kyrie hadn't torn ACL, they would've made it.

Mavs getting compensated for Doncic failure though? With the NBA knowing the whole franchise is cooked?

[JujitsuFlip]

Yes, clearly lol

[Rainwater]

You can’t say it’s rigged AFTER the result. I didn’t see anyone saying they were going to rig for Dallas an hour ago. We’ve seen teams move up before. It’s not some new occurrence. The Pelicans moved up for Zion. Was that rigged too?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nobody said this because nobody thought the NBA would do this so OPENLY. That is the shocking part about this.

I just don't get how you guys come up with this stuff. Regardless of where Flagg went, it would have been claimed rigged.

[stepic]

I’m losing brain cells just reading this forum

[unicron5]

I think the 85 draft (Ewing to NY), the 93 draft (get Shaq a sidekick), and this one were rigged but it's not an every year thing. Maybe 2008 with Derrick Rose to Chicago also.

[knicksfan974]

NBA doesn't have much incentive to rig...its already a huge billion dollar business and already secured big contract for next 10 years. Its not some startup trying to sruvive. If anything, you'd think Silver not want Mavs get 1 pick just so that ppl wouldn't think it is rigged...also from what I understand, the process is run by E&Y...I doubt a reputed firm like E&Y would wanna risk its reputation by rigging stuff like this

The NBA really gained nothing from this. It just makes no sense from a business perspective for Flagg to go to Dallas. If anything, the NBA would want him to go to Washington, Char, or Utah or freaking Brooklyn.

It was the price to pay to get Luka to LA.

I don't buy the E&Y reputation thing, even the league wants you to believe it. Does not give my any more confirmation on the legality of the lottery.