Atlanta Wins 2024 NBA Draft Lottery

Despite having only a 3% chance of winning the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday, the Atlanta Hawks will be selecting first overall this summer as the league welcomes in its newest crop of rookies.

“It was a shock,” said general manager Landry Fields after his team won. “When I first saw that it wasn’t us between 10 and 12, that launched us into the top four. I was like, all right, we’ve got a real shot at this thing. A bit of surprise, but a lot of excitement.”

While the Hawks were overjoyed at their luck, the Detroit Pistons walked away disappointed with the outcome as for the second straight year they fell out of the number 1 pick despite sporting the league’s worst record. The Raptors were also burned by the lottery system as their top 6 protected 1st rounder conveyed to San Antonio after the Hawks rise bumped them down to 8th overall.

The Atlanta Hawks, who had just a three percent chance of winning the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery, end up with the No. 1 overall pick in a shocker. 🔥👀 pic.twitter.com/STzvuXM5cL
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) May 12, 2024

Last year saw Victor Wembanyama taken as a sure fire, can’t miss prospect atop the draft. However the 2024 crop of players is still very much in flux. With Atlanta finishing 10th in the East last year, and uncertainty surrounding the future of guard Trae Young with the franchise, there’s also no guarantee that Atlanta doesn’t flip the pick to another club in a “win now” effort to keep their core together.