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LeBron James, NBA players react to Mavericks winning Cooper Flagg sweepstakes

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated May 12, 2025 10:18 PM ET

Not even NBA players could believe the Dallas Mavericks’ luck during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.

The Mavs won Monday’s draft lottery, which guarantees them the opportunity to select prized Duke prospect Cooper Flagg. The 18-year-old phenom is widely projected to be a franchise player and clear No. 1 overall pick in next month’s draft.

Dallas had just a 1.8% shot at winning the lottery. Following a season wherein the team traded away franchise player Luka Doncic, the result evoked several reactions all around. Some felt like the Mavericks deserved Flagg as some sort of karmic justice for losing Doncic. Others believed it to be proof that the NBA is rigged.

NBA players were just as stunned at the Mavs’ amazing fortunes. LeBron James and several others shared posts immediately after the draft lottery results went public.

— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 12, 2025

I mean come on man
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) May 12, 2025

This goes to show why faith and always believing are so important folks
— τobias Harris (@tobias31) May 12, 2025

— PJ Washington (@PJWashington) May 12, 2025

Utah Jazz minority owner Dwyane Wade also chimed in after his team, which entered the night with the best odds to win the top pick, fell to fifth.

But…… There has been some great players drafted with the 5th pick! pic.twitter.com/o29KhUM9cc
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) May 12, 2025

Texas native Patrick Mahomes sounded as hyped as any Dallas fan about the result.

GOOO @dallasmavs https://t.co/OuopQREADm
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 12, 2025

The Mavericks winning the 2025 lottery felt like something out of a Hollywood script. Even the best players in the world were left stunned by how the ping pong balls fell.

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

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