One of the most exciting moments for a basketball franchise is if they learn they have won the NBA draft lottery, especially when it’s unexpected.
Lottery odds formatting have changed several times since the system began in 1985 when the New York Knicks selected Patrick Ewing. In the future, the format might change again to help prevent tanking from league bottom-dwellers.
The upcoming 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is on May 10 in Chicago and will determine which teams will have a chance to draft top prospects like AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson.
14 teams will have a chance at No. 1 overall and with that in mind, here are all of the lottery winners who received the pick despite less than 10 percent odds.
NBA MOCK DRAFT 11.0: First-round projections after early entry deadline
The Orlando Magic make Chris Webber in the 1993 NBA Draft. Orlando would trade Webber to Golden State for Anfernee Hardaway and three future first round picks.
Player: Chris Webber
Record: 41-41
Odds: 1.52% (11th)
This pick was included in a trade to the Golden State Warriors involving Penny Hardaway and future first-round picks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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