NBA Draft Lottery: #1 Pick History

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Since the modern lottery format was started in 1994, the team with the worst record has only received the #1 pick twice. (However, the team with the best odds of getting #1 has won it 3 times due to an expansion quirk in 1996.) The past four seasons have seen a rush of mediocre, but not awful, teams winning the #1 pick. Chicago last year defied the odds with just a 1.7% chance.

 

However, it seems like we're due for one of the worst 3 teams to snag the top spot (which will almost certainly go to Blake Griffin). Considering the worst team has a 25% chance of the #1 pick, and this is the 16th year, it would only make sense that this is the 4th time that the #1 team gets the top spot.

 

Oddly, no team with the 4th worst record has ever snagged the top spot, although the 5th worst teams have done so 3 times.

 

	TEAM	RECORD	STANDINGS	ODDS
2009	?	?	?	?
2008	Chicago	33-49	9th	1.7%
2007	Portland	32-50	7th	5.3%
2006	Toronto	27-55	5th	8.8%
2005	Milwaukee	30-52	6th	6.3%
2004	Orlando	21-61	1st	25.0%
2003	Cleveland	17-65	T-1st	22.5%
2002	Houston	28-54	5th	8.9%
2001	Washington	19-63	3rd	15.7%
2000	New Jersey	31-52	7th	4.4%
1999	Chicago	13-37	3rd	15.7%
1998	LA Clippers	17-65	3rd	22.6%
1997	San Antonio	20-62	3rd*	21.6%
1996	Philadelphia	18-64	2nd*	33.7%
1995	Golden St	26-56	5th	9.4%
1994	Milwaukee	20-62	T-2nd	16.3%

 

*The expansion Grizzlies were barred from the 1st pick in 97 & 98, despite having the worst overall record.

 

Also See:

2009 Lottery Odds

 

2009 NBA DRAFT:  NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects