The NBA Draft Lottery offers hope to teams that struggled during the regular season. It’s a chance to secure a high draft pick and potentially select a player who can become the organization’s cornerstone.
In this year’s event, the lottery holds extra significance with Duke University’s Cooper Flagg emerging as a generational talent and the consensus top prospect. Three teams stand out with the best odds of landing the coveted No. 1 pick: the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets, each holding a 14% chance.
The Race for the Top Pick: How the Lottery Works
The NBA Draft Lottery determines the order of selection for the first 14 picks in the draft, involving the teams that didn’t qualify for the playoffs. The system is designed to give teams with the worst records better odds of obtaining higher picks, discouraging intentional losing, often called tanking.
Under the current format, the three teams with the worst records each have a 14% chance of winning the No. 1 pick, with the odds decreasing for subsequent teams. The lottery selects the first four picks, and the remaining lottery teams pick in inverse order of their regular-season records. The event is scheduled for today in Chicago.
1. Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz endured their worst season in franchise history in 2024/2025, finishing with a dismal 17-65 record. That struggle, however, positions them with a 14% chance of winning the lottery and selecting first overall.
2. Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards also faced their challenges in the last season, finishing with an 18-64 record, the second-worst in the league. Injuries and inconsistency derailed their campaign, underscoring the need for a game-changing talent. With a 14% shot at the No. 1 pick, the Wizards are banking on Flagg to become the cornerstone they’ve been missing.
3. Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets came close to playoff contention last season but ultimately fell short, ending with a 17-63 record. That performance lands them among the league’s worst, giving them a 14% chance at the top pick.
KEEP READING: Watch: Projected No.1 Cooper Flagg Pick Rains In 3 Point Shots Getting Ready For The NBA Draft
The Hornets have a solid foundation of young talent, but they’ve lacked a true superstar to push them over the hump.
The Coveted Prospect
Flagg has been a basketball prodigy since high school, and his freshman season at Duke cemented his status as the top prospect for the 2025 NBA Draft. Standing at 6’9” with a versatile skill set, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Flagg is not just a high pick for the team lucky enough to draft him; he’s a potential franchise savior with the tools to dominate from day one.
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