The Mavericks entered the
2025 NBA draft holding the first overall pick. They had previously traded their second-round pick to the
Utah Jazz as part of the
Luka Dončić–Anthony Davis three-team trade in February 2025. Despite having only a 1.8% chance of securing the top selection, they won the
NBA draft lottery, becoming the second consecutive team to reach the postseason (via the
NBA play-in tournament) and subsequently win the lottery without a trade, following the
2023–24 Atlanta Hawks. Their lottery position was partly determined by winning a coin flip over the
Chicago Bulls, which kept them in the 11th spot prior to the lottery draw. Landing the first overall pick granted them the opportunity to rebuild after trading
Luka Dončić to the
Los Angeles Lakers earlier in the year. With the first overall pick, Dallas selected
Duke University forward
Cooper Flagg. ==Roster==