NBA Draft Lottery History Doesn't Favor Jazz Landing Cooper Flagg

Contributing Sports Writer

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The NBA Draft Lottery is tonight, and the entire basketball world will finally know which team will get the opportunity to land Duke star Cooper Flagg. Flagg is seen by many around the league as the next big star in the league, so teams have been patiently waiting for this moment.

The Draft Lottery is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET from Chicago.

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Entering the Draft Lottery, three NBA teams have the highest chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz finished the season with the worst record, and they come in with a 14 percent chance.

The Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets also hold 14 percent chances to land Flagg. But recent NBA Draft Lottery history doesn't favor teams with the worst record, putting some spotlight on the Jazz.

In 2024, the Atlanta Hawks won the lottery despite having a three percent chance entering the night. The NBA's worst team hasn't won the lottery since the league changed the format in 2019.

Recent NBA Draft Lottery winners:

2024: Hawks (3.0% chance)
2023: Spurs (14.0%)
2022: Magic (14.0%)
2021: Pistons (14.0%)
2020: Wolves (14.0%)
2019: Pelicans (6.0%)

The team with NBA's worst record has not won the lottery since format changed in 2019.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 12, 2025

With this news, luck may not bode well for the Jazz. But Utah is still holding out hope of landing Flagg to help them complete the rebuild.

The Jazz have been in a downward spiral over the past few years, but the team has kept an eye on this draft. Adding a player like Flagg to pair alongside star forward Lauri Markkanen could allow Utah to get right back into the postseason conversation next year.

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Other teams like the Wizards or Hornets could use him to help push them forward as well. Charlotte has a few potential stars on the roster, alongside guard LaMelo Ball, potentially giving them playoff upside as well.

Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils dribbles up court against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half of an Elite Eight game in the men's NCAA basketball tournament at Prudential Center on... Lance King

Flagg was special while at Duke, helping the Blue Devils reach the Final Four. For the season, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game.

The talented forward showed why many NBA scouts see him as the best prospect to come out of college in years. There will be a lot of emotions running high during the NBA Draft Lottery, with teams anxious to land the No. 1 overall pick.

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