One NBA executive quipped Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison basically played four-dimensional chess when he traded franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite long odds,

Two years ago, San Antonio won THE lottery and drafted Victor Wembanyama. Last season, the Spurs drafted fourth and took Stephon Castle out of UConn, who went on to win Rookie of the Year.

The Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery despite entering the night with only a 1.8% chance to do so, and this unlikely event made the team's war room explode with cheers from controversial general manager Nico Harrison and the rest of the front office.