The NBA draft lottery once again produced straight-up drama and intrigue this week, with the Dallas Mavericks defying astronomical odds to land the No. 1 overall pick. That got us thinking about the NFL’s draft system that simply rewards the league’s worst teams without any wrinkles.

Three months after gifting Luka Dončić to the Lakers in what many are calling a historic robbery, the Dallas Mavericks somehow won the lottery. With the No. 1 pick, Duke sensation Cooper Flagg is now expected to land in Dallas, unless GM Nico Harrison entertains another surprising trade.

The Dallas Mavericks land the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery with 1.8% odds, the 4th-lowest to win the drawing since it was instituted in 1985.