Shaq, on Draft Rigging: "They asked me if I wanted heat or cold and I ended up in Orlando"

Conspiracy theories about the NBA Draft 2025 lottery that gave the number 1 pick to the Dallas Mavericks with a 1.8% chance of obtaining it months after the Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers continue to circulate. The latest to comment on the event was Shaquille O'Neal, who shared an anecdote from when he was drafted as the number 1 pick in 1992.

"David Stern asked me, 'Would you rather play in a cold or warm place?' I replied, 'Warm!' Shortly after, Orlando secured the first pick in the Draft," recounted the current TNT analyst.

Here is how he explained it in detail:

"I don't know if you know this story, but in 1992, I think it was in June when the Draft took place, I met David Stern a few months earlier, in March. He said to me, 'I'm looking forward to your NBA arrival.' Then he stood next to me and asked, 'Would you prefer to play in a cold or warm place?' I said I preferred the heat. He smiled, I did too... and days later, the lottery happened. Minnesota ended up with the third pick, Charlotte with the second, and Orlando, in Florida, got the number one selection."

He further fueled the conspiracy theories:

"At the time, I didn't pay much attention to it, but over time, you start hearing many theories about possible fixes and you begin to think that there are situations that fit too perfectly. Like when Dallas lets go of one of its big stars and suddenly, a new promise appears. Ding, ding, ding! I'm not saying it's a conspiratorial theory, but what happened is, at least, curious."

What do you think?

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Shaq, sobre el amaño del Draft: "Me preguntaron si quería calor o frío y acabé en Orlando"