The Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft after winning the league's draft lottery on Sunday. The victory marks a significant turnaround for a franchise that has endured years of losing seasons and poor lottery outcomes.
The Wizards entered the lottery with the best odds after posting one of the league's worst records for the third straight year. They defeated the Pacers and Nets in the drawing to claim the top selection, ending a stretch of bad luck that previously denied them the No. 1 pick in drafts featuring Zion Williamson, Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg.