The Mavericks shocked all the NBA after they traded Luka Doncic in 2024-25. A mixture of buying and selling their high participant and accidents put Dallas in a nasty spot.
Nonetheless, with a 1.7% probability, the Mavericks gained the 2025 draft lottery and can choose #1 total. This left followers extremely suspicious. It’s not the primary time the legitimacy of the draft lottery has been introduced into query. Just lately, Corridor of Famer Shaquille O’Neal advised a narrative of how former Commissioner David Stern might have rigged the lottery for him in 1992.
Did David Stern rig the 1992 draft lottery for Shaq to be drafted by Orlando?
Shaq says David Stern despatched him to Orlando
“‘You need to play the place it’s chilly or the place it’s sizzling?’
I stated sizzling… Orlando, Florida, primary [pick].”
(By way of @AshleyNevel, h/t @CourtsideBuzzX / @Fullcourtpass )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) Could 19, 2025
After three seasons at LSU, Shaquille O’Neal entered the 1992 NBA draft. He was broadly thought-about the consensus #1 total choice. Just lately, Shaq went on Ashley Nevel’s podcast. They have been discussing the NBA draft lottery, and O’Neal advised a narrative about former Commissioner David Stern. Three months earlier than the draft, Stern advised O’Neal that he couldn’t look ahead to him to affix the NBA.
That very same day, David Stern pulled O’Neal to the facet and requested him, “You need to play the place it’s chilly or the place it’s sizzling?” O’Neal swears that this occurred, and he advised Stern “sizzling” and so they each smiled at one another. Orlando gained the draft lottery in 1992, and so they drafted Shaquille O’Neal out of LSU. On the time, O’Neal didn’t suppose a lot of it.
Since years have handed, the Corridor of Famer is skeptical in terms of draft lotteries through the years. He talked about Dallas touchdown the #1 choose within the 2025 NBA draft after coaching away Luka Doncic. Sadly, David Stern handed away in 2020, and he’ll by no means be capable of inform his facet of the story. Shaquille O’Neal has drawn headlines with this newest story surrounding the legitimacy of the draft lottery.
