One of the most thrilling events for an NBA franchise is unexpectedly winning the draft lottery, with changes to lottery odds since 1985 aimed at reducing tanking. The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10 will determine top prospects like AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer, with 14 teams vying for the No. 1 pick. Historically, teams with less than 10% odds have won, including the Orlando Magic in 1993 with Chris Webber and the Chicago Bulls in 2008 with Derrick Rose. Other notable unlikely winners include the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Andrew Wiggins in 2014 and the New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson in 2019.
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Unlikely NBA Draft Lottery Winners in History
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