Talk about the improbable. The Washington Wizards came into the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery with high hopes. After a season of struggling mightily, Washington came into the lottery with the highest odds of nabbing the first-overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Things were finally starting to look good for the franchise.
Unfortunately... their dream day turned into a nightmare. In a shocking turn of events, the Wizards went from having the highest possible odds for the first pick to taking the worst possible pick for them. The sixth-overall pick is still a nice pick in a vacuum, but the fact that the Wizards were in position to draft way higher than that left fans disappointed.
A draft prospect during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place.
A draft prospect during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place.
David Banks-Imagn Images
Wizards fans are, obviously, distraught at this news.
@JayNCtoDC remarked that the Wizards must be cursed at this point, saying, "All Wizards fans, realizing that even though DC is an affluent, large media market, the Wizards are forever cursed".
Fans of other teams are also checking on their local DC fan.
Reporter Rachel Nichols summed it all up perfectly, saying, "Wizards fans cannot catch a break." Meanwhile, PFT Commenter joked that Wizards GM Will Dawkins should try "a phone call to see if Nico will trade us the number 1 overall pick for the 6th overall pick".
In any case, the Wizards are now left with the tough position of drafting from the sixth position. There's still a lot of good talent around that area, but things have changed massively from the front office's perspective.