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Kevin Love Reacts to the Dallas Mavericks Getting the No. 1 Pick

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joshua Rosenblum | Last updated May 12, 2025 10:47 PM ET

On Monday night, the NBA Draft Lottery delivered a seismic shock to the basketball world, and veteran NBA star Kevin Love couldn’t hold back his reaction.

The Dallas Mavericks, fresh off a controversial trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, defied the odds with a mere 1.8% chance to secure the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Love, known for his candid social media presence, took to X with a succinct but telling post: “I mean come on man,” capturing the disbelief and amusement that rippled through the league.

The Mavericks’ lottery win grants them the chance to draft Duke phenom Cooper Flagg, a player widely regarded as a generational talent.

The victory comes just months after the trade that outraged Mavericks fans and sparked widespread speculation about the NBA’s draft integrity.

Love’s post, while lighthearted, ignited a firestorm of responses from fans and analysts alike. His reaction, though brief, underscores the broader narrative of skepticism surrounding the NBA’s lottery process.

The Mavericks’ improbable leap to the top spot has fueled conspiracy theories, with some fans pointing to historical patterns of lottery luck following major trades to big markets like the Lakers.

In spite of the conspiracy theories, the Mavericks now have a golden opportunity to turn their franchise around after losing a superstar in Doncic earlier this year.

As the Mavericks looks to rebuild around Flagg, Love’s humorous take mirrors the NBA community’s mix of awe and suspicion at this unexpected turn of events.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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