13 NBA Draft Lottery Winners Who Beat the Odds

Since the draft lottery began in 1985, 13 players have secured the top pick against less than a 10% probability. Chris Webber (1993, 1.52% odds) and Derrick Rose (2008, 1.70%) are among the most surprising winners. More recent examples include Cooper Flagg (2025, 1.80%) and Zaccharie Risacher (2024, 3.00%). These underdog picks have often led to franchise turnarounds and star careers, proving that lottery odds can be overturned. cat-cross.com