Tensions reached a boiling point last night as Dallas Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont erupted in fury following the Tensions reached a boiling point last night as Dallas Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont erupted in fury following the results of the 2025 National Basketball Board (NNB) Draft Lottery, where the Mavericks landed the 8th overall pick despite having the third-worst record in the league. Dumont, clearly furious during a post-lottery press conference, accused the league of bias and systemic corruption, threatening legal action.
“The whole system is rigged,” Dumont said, his voice rising. “We were supposed to have a top-three pick. The numbers don’t lie—this was supposed to be our year. Instead, we get leapfrogged by three teams with better records? It’s an embarrassment to competitive integrity.”
The Mavericks, who finished the season 22–60, had a 14% chance at the top pick and a 40% chance of landing in the top three. Despite the odds, teams like the Orlando Storm and Seattle Flight—both with worse lottery positions—vaulted into the top spots.
Dumont didn’t stop there. In a fiery exchange with reporters, he said the Mavericks were “exploring all legal avenues” and accused the NNB of “deliberately manipulating outcomes to favor big-market narratives.”
“You can’t tell me this is chance. We’re not going to just accept this. The integrity of our sport is at stake,” he declared.
The NNB has not officially responded to Dumont’s comments, but insiders say league officials were “stunned” by the vehemence of the remarks. One executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the threat of a lawsuit “laughable” and “a PR stunt.”
The Mavericks organization has not released a formal legal complaint as of this writing, but sources close to the team say they are consulting legal experts on whether the lottery selection process violates transparency standards or internal league bylaws.
Meanwhile, fans and analysts are split. Some support Dumont’s demand for a more transparent system, while others dismiss his claims as “sour grapes” from a team that failed to secure wins on the court.
Whether this outburst marks the beginning of a real legal battle—or just another controversial moment in NNB history—remains to be seen.
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