The 2014 NBA Draft Lottery gave the Milwaukee Bucks the No. 2 overall pick, but it also thrust a young woman into an unexpected spotlight. Mallory Edens, then a Princeton student and the daughter of Bucks owner Wes Edens, became an overnight internet sensation. However, she recently revealed that the viral moment was far from a victory lap—it was a painful experience.
During an appearance on the "Unlike Me" podcast, Edens shared how the sudden attention left her feeling hurt and protective. "The things people were saying online about me at that time felt so harmful," she said. "I went really viral on the internet at a really young age and it put me in this place where I felt so protective of myself."
Edens, now the founder of Little Ray Media, a production company focused on female-led stories, explained that the misconceptions about her have lingered. "I think the biggest misconception is just that they don't know that much about me," she added. That protective shell, she admits, has never fully come off.
Despite the rough start, Edens has carved out her own path. She's built a career in media and modeling, but she's not looking to dive into NBA front office decisions. "I have such a deep respect for what the front office does," she said. "I love just getting to be a fly on the wall in their conversations."
She does, however, keep a close dialogue with her father. "I always tell my dad exactly what I think all the time. We have a respectful banter about those things," she noted. While she stays open to whatever the future holds, her focus remains on her own ventures.
As the NBA Draft Lottery approaches, Edens is once again in the spotlight, but on her own terms. She'll be on stage Sunday, May 10, as the event airs live on ABC at 3 p.m. ET. The Wizards enter with the best odds this year.
Edens' story is a reminder that viral fame isn't always a win. Her candor about the emotional toll resonates beyond sports, echoing themes in her recent swimsuit snap that also sparked buzz. But beneath the headlines, she's focused on authenticity and staying true to herself.
Looking back, Edens says the experience taught her resilience. "I don't think people know me that well online," she reflected. It's a lesson in the gap between public perception and private reality—a gap she's determined to bridge on her own terms.
