Remember The NBA Draft Lottery Winners? (2000 Onwards) Quiz

Luna Greco

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Post on May 13, 2025

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The Early 2000s: A Decade of Surprises (2000-2009)

The NBA Draft Lottery in the early 2000s was a period of significant change and unpredictability. The impact of landing a top pick, particularly the #1 overall selection, could drastically alter a franchise's trajectory, setting the stage for either sustained success or continued struggles. Analyzing the NBA Draft Lottery results from this era provides fascinating insights into the building of teams and the rise of future stars. Understanding the NBA Draft Lottery odds and the history of the lottery itself are key to appreciating the impact of these early 2000s results.

• 2000: Washington Wizards – Kwame Brown; While Brown didn't live up to the hype as the #1 overall pick, the Wizards were looking to build around him.
• 2001: Washington Wizards – Gilbert Arenas; Arenas became a key player for the Wizards, leading them to playoff appearances.
• 2002: Memphis Grizzlies – Pau Gasol; Gasol became a cornerstone for the Grizzlies, a franchise-altering pick.
• 2003: Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James; This pick fundamentally changed the Cavaliers' trajectory, leading to multiple playoff appearances and a Finals run. This is arguably one of the most impactful NBA Draft Lottery results in history.
• 2004: Orlando Magic – Dwight Howard; Howard became an All-Star center for the Magic, leading them to the NBA Finals.
• 2005: Milwaukee Bucks – Andrew Bogut; Bogut's injury issues impacted his career, but the Bucks were hoping for a franchise center.
• 2006: Toronto Raptors – Andrea Bargnani; Bargnani's NBA career didn't quite match the expectations of a number one pick.
• 2007: Portland Trail Blazers – Greg Oden; Oden's injury-plagued career prevented him from reaching his full potential. Another example of the unpredictable nature of the NBA Draft Lottery.
• 2008: Chicago Bulls – Derrick Rose; Rose became an MVP and led the Bulls to the playoffs.
• 2009: Minnesota Timberwolves – Ricky Rubio; Rubio became a fan favorite in Minnesota known for his passing and unique style of play.

One significant upset during this period was the Washington Wizards' consecutive wins in 2000 and 2001, demonstrating the occasional unpredictable nature of the NBA Draft Lottery system. Analyzing the top NBA draft prospects of this era helps understand why teams made specific selections.

The 2010s: Building Dynasties and Unexpected Success (2010-2019)

The 2010s saw a continuation of the NBA Draft Lottery's impact on team-building strategies, with some franchises leveraging their high picks to construct championship-contending rosters. This decade demonstrated the importance of NBA Lottery odds and smart drafting.

• 2010: Washington Wizards – John Wall; Wall became the face of the Wizards franchise for many years.
• 2011: Cleveland Cavaliers – Kyrie Irving; Irving became an All-Star and eventually a champion with the Cavaliers.
• 2012: New Orleans Hornets – Anthony Davis; Davis became a cornerstone of the franchise, earning multiple All-Star selections and leading them to playoff contention.
• 2013: Cleveland Cavaliers – Anthony Bennett; This is considered one of the biggest busts in NBA Draft Lottery history.
• 2014: Cleveland Cavaliers – Andrew Wiggins; Wiggins became a solid NBA player, but not quite the franchise cornerstone they hoped for.
• 2015: Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl-Anthony Towns; Towns has established himself as an elite center in the NBA.
• 2016: Philadelphia 76ers – Ben Simmons; Simmons became an All-Star player but faced criticisms during his career.
• 2017: Boston Celtics – Markelle Fultz; Injuries and struggles unfortunately hampered Fultz's career trajectory.
• 2018: Phoenix Suns – Deandre Ayton; Ayton developed into a starting center for the Suns, proving to be a valuable pick.
• 2019: New Orleans Pelicans – Zion Williamson; Williamson is a dominant force and a key piece for the Pelicans. This demonstrates how a high pick can build a future star for a team.

Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, leveraging multiple high draft picks gained through trades and the NBA Lottery, show how strategic use of the lottery can help a team become a championship contender.

The 2020s: A New Era of Lottery Success (2020-Present)

The 2020s continue to show the significant impact of the NBA Draft Lottery on the league’s landscape. The evolving strategies of teams, the increased focus on analytics, and the introduction of the NBA Lottery Simulator tools all play a role in shaping how teams approach this crucial event. Understanding the NBA Lottery reform efforts also helps to understand the changes in how teams approach this system.

• 2020: Golden State Warriors – James Wiseman; Wiseman's career has yet to fully develop but he has shown flashes of talent.
• 2021: Detroit Pistons – Cade Cunningham; Cunningham is seen as a foundational player for the rebuilding Pistons franchise.
• 2022: Orlando Magic – Paolo Banchero; Banchero quickly established himself as a star player in his rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year.
• 2023: San Antonio Spurs – Victor Wembanyama; Wembanyama is arguably the most hyped prospect in recent NBA history.

The recent drafts highlight the continuing importance of securing a high pick in the NBA Draft Lottery, especially in building a team's future. Many new young NBA stars have emerged from this system.

Conclusion

From LeBron James to Zion Williamson and Victor Wembanyama, the NBA Draft Lottery has undeniably shaped the NBA's competitive landscape over the past two decades. The teams listed above showcase the incredible impact – both positive and negative – of securing a top pick. Remember, a high pick doesn’t guarantee success, but it significantly increases a team's chances of acquiring a franchise-altering player.

So, how did you do? Test your knowledge again with our comprehensive NBA Draft Lottery Winners quiz and see if you can beat your score! Share your results and challenge your friends to remember the NBA Draft Lottery Winners from 2000 onwards! Remember to check back for more NBA quizzes and trivia.