The NBA draft lottery is an interesting deal. For years, conspiracy theories on rigging have revolved around the important event. However, no one really had enough proof to back such claims until now. Looks like the investigative journalist kept receipts on Adam Silver after the 2025 Draft Lottery.

Remember, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic for Anthony Edwards in Feb 2o25. That single decision by then-GM Nico Harrison set all hell loose on the franchise. Upset fans demanded that the front office fire Harrison and bring back Doncic. But instead, despite having 1.8% chance, the Mavs got the No.1 pick in the lottery, thus giving hope that good days were about to come.

That sounds like the greatest comeback story ever. However, in hindsight, according to Torre, something else happened. He talked on Chapo Trap House, “I was at an event, and I spoke to two NBA owners. This was the day after the NBA lottery. Those two owners were both like, this was obviously fixed. And I am like, ‘Okay, so I am not saying that it was fixed for the Mavs.'”

Torre added, “It’s not just people on the Internet saying, this seems fixed to me…I’m saying literally two NBA owners did not trust the hand of Adam Silver to remain out of the proceedings in terms of rigging the NBA draft lottery.”

The 2025 NBA Draft lottery was undeniably chaotic. Teams ranked below the top four experienced a substantial climb in standings. In a stunning upset, the Dallas Mavericks secured the top draft selection, defying their mere 1.8% chance. The result is akin to the franchise being granted an easy way out of a difficult situation. In the interim, the San Antonio Spurs attained the second draft pick, holding a 6.3% chance. The Philadelphia 76ers secured the third spot, having previously held a 10.6% chance.

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Moreover, the Mavericks now hold a rare place in history. Their 1.8% leap marks the fourth-lowest probability ever to win the NBA Draft lottery since its creation in 1985. Previously, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired the top spot with 1.7% in 2014; they picked Andrew Wiggins that year. And before that, in 2011, with a 2.8% chance, they got the No.1 pick and acquired Kyrie Irving.

This wasn’t the first time that the fans accused the officer bearers of rigging the Draft Lottery event. Well, Commissioners before Adam Silver have faced similar allegations.

Why is Adam Silver on the chopping block for the 2025 Draft Lottery?

The issue finds its roots in the chance percentage. A 1.8% chance feels unreal. However, the NBA has seen such low margins before, and teams have gotten top spots. Yet, the timing says it all. Drama had already surrounded the franchise. As mentioned, in February 2025, Dallas traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis and others after a Finals run. The season collapsed to 39-43. Backlash grew. Ratings dipped. Therefore, many framed the No. 1 pick as league compensation.

Meanwhile, social media erupted as fans brought back memories from the 1985 draft lottery. That year, the New York Knicks has 14.29% chance (1 in 7) of winning the top pick. They got the first spot and bagged Patrick Ewing. The Chicago Bulls got the No.1 prospect, Derrick Rose, in 2008 despite a 1.7% chance. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets drafted Anthony Davis in 2012 with a 13.7% chance.

However, the Mavs had the fourth-lowest odds ever and then soared ten spots from No. 11, the largest jump in lottery history. They overcame Utah, Washington, and Charlotte, each holding 14% odds. As a result, Dallas secured Duke star Cooper Flagg, widely viewed as a generational talent. The shock felt massive, and compensation theories swirled around.

So now, as the league stands at a crossroads with reformation in drafts, as Adam Silver mentioned during the All-Star weekend, it will be interesting to see if the lottery pattern also takes a hit. For now, Pablo Torre has exploded another bombshell in the NBA. And we’re yet to see how the crowd reacts.