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 New York Knicks were transformed by the addition of Patrick Ewing in 1985 but rumors have swirled about behind-the-scenes dealings.

Another reason why conspiracy theorists say the NBA Draft Lottery is rigged is because the actual drawing of the ping-pong balls is no longer shown on live TV as it was in the past. However, the league invites select media members to attend the ball drawing, which takes place in a separate room in the venue right before the national TV broadcast.

Duke's Cooper Flagg, the presumptive No. 1 overall pick, isn't the only promising talent in the 2025 NBA Draft class.