It’s the most entertaining 10 minutes in television each year. Welcome to Tuesday’s 2021 NBA draft lottery.
The annual lottery features the 14 non-playoff teams and draws for the top four picks in the upcoming draft, scheduled for July 29. After the top four, the 10 remaining teams are slotted Nos. 5-14 in reverse order of the regular season standings. In a non-COVID year, all of that would happen in a sequestered backroom, with one representative from each team with lottery implications present.
The results are then revealed live to the world on television.
Over the weekend, we simulated the lottery 100 times, and no team performed better than the Detroit Pistons, who got the top pick 20 times or 20%. (The odds say they should win 14% of the time.) The Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic also have 14% odds to land the coveted No. 1 pick in a year with talented crop at the top.
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Newly elected Basketball Hall of Famer Ben Wallace is the Pistons’ lottery representative; he’ll be stationed at the Pistons’ practice facility in downtown Detroit, as the lottery is not in-person this year. Find each lottery representative here.
Here are the Pistons’ odds of landing each pick:
No. 1: 14% odds.
No. 2: 13.4% odds.
No. 3: 12.7% odds.
No. 4: 11.9% odds.
No. 5: 27.8% odds.
No. 6: 20.1% odds.
The Pistons’ last draft pick higher than seventh came in 2003, when they selected Darko Milicic at No. 2.
The consensus top four begins with No. 1 pick favorite, Oklahoma State guard/forward Cade Cunningham, followed by USC center Evan Mobley, G League guard Jalen Green and Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs.
May the ping pong balls be ever in your favor.
For instant reaction after the draft lottery, visit freep.com/sports/pistons.
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How to watch 2021 NBA draft lottery
When: Tuesday, 8:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN.
Streaming: ESPN.com, ESPN app.
Simulate the lottery: At Tankathon.com.
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Draft lottery order, No. 1 pick odds:
*1. Houston Rockets, 14%
2. Detroit Pistons, 14%
3. Orlando Magic, 14%
4. Oklahoma City Thunder, 11.5%
5. Cleveland Cavaliers, 11.5%
#6. Minnesota Timberwolves, 9%
7. Toronto Raptors, 7.5%
~8. Chicago Bulls, 4.5%
9. Sacramento Kings, 4.5%
10. New Orleans Pelicans, 4.5%
11. Charlotte Hornets, 1.8%
12. San Antonio Spurs, 1.7%
13. Indiana Pacers, 1%
14. Golden State Warriors, 0.5%
Find more draft pick odds for every team at each spot.
*Houston’s pick goes to OKC if it lands outside top four
#Minnesota’s pick goes to Golden State if it lands outside top three
~Chicago’s pick goes to Orlando if it lands outside top four
