Adam Silver Stands by Dallas Mavericks’ NBA Draft Lottery Victory

The Dallas Mavericks were awarded the first pick in June’s NBA draft by winning the lottery conducted on May 12 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.

Now, they have the opportunity to add the Duke Blue Devils' first team All-American forward Cooper Flagg to their roster, which is composed of veterans such as Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Some questioned Dallas' triumph, thinking it was unfair because they had lower odds of receiving the pick compared to the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz, who were at the top of the list.

Despite the skepticism, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is defending the Mavericks' win.

“I want to remind you that we call it the lottery because it must have been a one-and-a-million chance that Dallas was going to win,” Silver said on Fox Sports “Breakfast Ball” show. “Remember, the worst-performing team had a 14 percent chance of winning, so there was an 86 percent chance they wouldn’t get it.”

He continued, “Dallas roughly had a 2 percent chance. So the losingest team had a 70 times better chance, so 2 percent is 2 percent, and it’s going to happen.”