Mallory Edens, the daughter of Milwaukee Bucks owner Wes Edens, reminisced on her viral moment at the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery and the lasting effect harmful comments online had on her.
During a recent appearance on the “Unlike Me” podcast, Edens — who became an internet sensation when she represented the Bucks in the lottery on stage in New York — explained that the wave of online attention made her “so protective” of herself.
“I actually think people actually don’t know that much about me and I think that the biggest misconception — is just that they don’t know that much about me,” Edens 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 because the things people were saying online about me at that time felt so harmful.
“And I don’t know that I’ve ever if really left that protective casing. So, I think the misconception is just I don’t think people know me that well online.”
Edens became an instant meme when she appeared at the lottery.
Despite the Bucks slipping to No. 2, many were convinced Milwaukee was the real winner of the night due to the stunning then 18-year-old.
“I’ll say it. Mallory Edens is a star,” Michelle Beadle, a FanDuel host and former ESPNer, tweeted at the time.
“The Cavs won the lottery and Mallory Edens won the Internet,” Bill Simmons added.
Her celebrity status only rose from there.
In 2023, Edens was rumored to be dating then Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has since played for the Jets and Steelers while marrying a mystery woman named Brittani.
Edens, a model, founded Little Ray Media, a production company based in Los Angeles with a mission to tell stories by and about women and girls.
When asked if she has any desire to be involved in the Bucks organization in a bigger capacity, Edens said, “Um I’ve had my moments.”
“I have such a deep respect for what the front office does. And I love just getting to be a fly on the wall in their conversations,” Edens said. “I always tell my dad exactly what I think all the time … We have a respectful banter about those things. So we’re not always on the same page but I always let him know exactly how I feel.
“I love basketball. I’m open minded about what my future holds.”
