Despite only having a 6.6% chance to do so, the New Orleans Pelicans won the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night and acquired the right to make the first pick on June 20.
The draft lottery, which took place in Chicago, gave the New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Phoenix Suns the highest odds to snatch the top pick, at 14%.
However, the Pelicans, who finished the 2018-19 season with the 7th-worst record, got the pick and the right to draft Duke phenom Zion Williamson with the first selection of the night.
The Knicks were long seen as an ideal destination for Williamson, who would relish the opportunity to groom a home-grown superstar that would be a media sensation in the country’s largest market, ended up with the third pick instead.
The Memphis Grizzlies have the second overall pick despite having slim odds to rise so far.
The Pelicans, as previously mentioned, will almost certainly draft Williamson with the first pick. The young phenom is considered one of the most attractive basketball prospects in a long time due to his explosive athleticism and scoring ability.
The draft will be held on June 20th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
