These 2023 NBA Draft Lottery teams have never won the No. 1 pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The NBA draft lottery has been kind to some.
And not so kind to others.
Since the event debuted in 1985, a total of nine franchises have never won the draft lottery: the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz.
However, that number could shrink to eight by the end of Tuesday night.
Four of those teams — Dallas, Indiana, OKC and Utah — enter the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery with a chance to win the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. The Pacers boast the seventh-highest odds to land the No. 1 pick at 6.8%, followed by the Jazz in ninth at 4.5%, the Mavs in 10th at 3% and the Thunder in 12th at 1.7%.
This is Indiana’s third consecutive draft lottery appearance. The Pacers had the fifth-best odds in 2022 and fell to sixth, where they selected Bennedict Mathurin. The Mathurin pick marked the franchise’s highest selection since the draft lottery format was changed to a weighted system in 1990.
The Pacers never picked first overall in their 47-year NBA history. They have drafted second overall three times, selecting Steve Stipanovich in 1983, Wayman Tisdale in 1985 and Rick Smits in 1988.
This is also the Thunder’s third consecutive year in the lottery. The Thunder jumped from fourth to second in 2022 to nab Chet Holmgren, who became the franchise’s third No. 2 overall pick and his highest selection since relocating from Seattle to OKC. Like Indiana, the Thunder have never selected first overall in the franchise’s 56-year history.
The Jazz and Mavs, meanwhile, are back in the lottery following multi-year absences. The Jazz are making their first appearance since all the way back in 2016 when they netted their highest-ever lottery selection at No. 5, which was used on Dante Exum. Utah also has never selected No. 1 overall in its 49-year history, with No. 2 pick Darrell Griffith in 1980 being the franchise’s highest pick.
Dallas’ last draft lottery appearance came in 2019 when its 10th overall selection was conveyed to the Atlanta Hawks. The Mavs are in danger of losing their pick in the 2023 draft lottery as well. If Dallas gets jumped by just one team, then the pick goes to the New York Knicks.
Dallas did pick first overall in the pre-lottery era, taking Mark Aguirre in 1981. The Mavericks’ best lottery result came in 1994 when it received the No. 2 picks and selected Jason Kidd.
So will Lady Luck finally be on the side of the Pacers, Jazz, Mavs or Thunder? We’ll find out Tuesday.