Ranking the 13 most unlikely draft lottery winners in NBA history

2. Chicago Bulls (2008)

No. 1 draft pick for the Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose walks to the stage during the 2008 NBA Draft at the Wamu Theatre at Madison Square Garden June 26, 2008 in New York City.

Player: Derrick Rose

Record: 33-49

Odds: 1.70% (9th)

Rose, who is originally from Chicago, was named 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year and won NBA MVP in 2011.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (2014)

Andrew Wiggins shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center.

Player: Andrew Wiggins

Record: 33-49

Odds: 1.70% 9th

Before his rookie season, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a deal involving Kevin Love. He was named 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year.

4. Dallas Mavericks (2025)

Cooper Flagg poses with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as first overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

Player: Cooper Flagg

Record: 39-43

Odds: 1.80% (11th)

This was shortly after Luka Dončić was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers for a trade involving Anthony Davis. Flagg was recently named 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year.

5. Los Angeles Clippers (2011)

Kyrie Irving greets NBA commissioner David Stern after he was selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Player: Kyrie Irving

Record: 32-50

Odds: 2.80% (8th)

Before the draft, the Clippers traded the rights to this pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving was named 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year and won a championship with the Cavaliers in 2016.

6. Atlanta Hawks (2024)

Player: Zaccharie Risacher

Record: 36-46

Odds: 3.00% (10th)

Risacher was named first-team NBA All-Rookie and is a contributor for the Hawks in the 2026 NBA postseason.

7. New Jersey Nets (2000)

Player: Kenyon Martin

Record: 31-52

Odds: 4.40% (7th)

Martin played four seasons for the Nets, earning an NBA All-Star nod in 2004.

8. Portland Trail Blazers (2007)

Player: Greg Oden

Record: 32-50

Odds: 5.30% (7th)

The big man was selected one pick before Kevin Durant and he played just three seasons in the NBA.

9. New Orleans Pelicans (2019)

Player: Zion Williamson

Record: 33-49

Odds: 6.00% (7th)

This pick was shortly after the Pelicans traded Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers. Williamson is a two-time NBA All-Star who has not yet made the playoffs.

10. Milwaukee Bucks (2005)

Player: Andrew Bogut

Record: 30-52

Odds: 6.30% (6th)

The Australian big man was named first-team NBA All-Rookie and played for the Bucks for seven seasons.

11. Toronto Raptors (2006)

Player: Andrea Bargnani

Record: 27-55

Odds: 8.80% (5th)

The Italian forward was named first-team NBA All-Rookie and played for the Raptors for seven seasons.

12. Houston Rockets (2002)

Player: Yao Ming

Record: 28-54

Odds: 8.90% (5th)

The Chinese big man played eight seasons for the Rockets and made the NBA All-Star team each campaign.

13. Golden State Warriors (1995)

Player: Joe Smith

Record: 26-56

Odds: 9.40% (5th)

Smith made first-team NBA All-Rookie and was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers midway through his third season with the Warriors.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA draft's 13 most unlikely lottery winners