Are the Detroit Pistons really unlucky in the NBA Draft Lottery?

The Detroit Pistons have had little luck in the NBA Draft Lottery and the stats bare that out. Hopefully, their recent (once) run of good luck continues this year. But other NBA teams have actually done worse.

Pretty much every Pistons fan knew the history of the team in the NBA Draft Lottery going into it last year. ‘The Pistons have never moved up with its own pick in the history of the lottery’ was a well-worn, if unfortunate, phrase, used at every bar, news story or just talk around the office (although few people were in offices, or bars, during last year’s draw).

As we all know, Detroit’s luck (with help from Pistons representative Ben Wallace) finally changed, and they were awarded the No. 1 pick in the draft for the first time in 51 years. Cade Cunningham came on draft night and, thankfully has played as advertised.

The 2022 Draft Lottery is May 17. Can Detroit keep the good luck going, or will they be back to having black cats cross their ping pong balls, like in the past.

Following last year’s lottery, Hoops Hype did a ranking of how successful each NBA team has been in the lettery’s history (it started in 1985 with the odds greatly revised in 2019).

Their rating was based on a simple metric: Move up from where you started (which was based on regular season standings), move down or remain the same.

The luckiest teams of all-time (remember starting in 1985) are the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last year was the first time the Spurs had not moved up when in the lottery (although they have only been in it three previous times).

We could add a few editorial comments about how shocking, SHOCKING, that the team in the biggest media market plus with a huge national following always seems to have some great luck when in the lottery.

Out of seven times being in the lottery, the Lakers only moved down once, and three times they improved.

The biggest supposed rigging of the lottery came in 1985. With Patrick Ewing of Georgetown the prize, somehow the New York Knicks (SHOCKINGLY) won the lottery. A conspiracy theory popped up that the envelope with the Knicks logo in it was cooled in a refrigerator, so when commissioner David Stern went into the bowl to make the draw, he knew which one they were.

Whether due to guilt by the league office, or bad luck, that is the only time the Knicks have ever moved up in the lottery.

How do the Detroit Pistons rank in lottery luck?

While the Pistons are in the bottom third, they are far from the unluckiest team in the NBA.

Hoops Hype had Detroit ranked 20th out of the 30 NBA teams.

Pistons Lottery history (12 appearances):

Moved up: 1 (2021, Cade Cunningham selected)

Remained the same: 6

Moved down: 5

Basically, not counting last year, Detroit is about 50-50 in staying the same or moving down. The Pistons had the third-worst record in the NBA this season, and if they end up No. 3, that is probably fine, as it will give them a chance at either Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr. or Paolo Banchero.

Moving back would not be good, as this is seen as a top heavy draft, unlike last year’s, when there was a lot of quality throughout the top 10.

In case you were curious, the unluckiest team in the draft lottery has been: the Miami Heat. In nine lottery trips, they have never moved up and moved down four times. Of course, Miami has been very successful luring veterans like LeBron James and Jimmy Butler, which has more than made up for the Heat’s bad lottery luck.