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Wizards clinch No. 1 pick in 2026 full-60 draft

6/23/2026

49 11 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a 14.0% lottery chance.
BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa and Kansas Darryn Peterson lead the No. 1 race.
Top five: Washington (1), Utah Jazz (2), Memphis Grizzlies (3), Chicago Bulls (4) and LA Clippers (5).
Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs hold four picks, the most of any team.
The draft will feature 60 selections, the first full-60-pick draft since 2021.

History

Historical Context

The NBA launched a draft lottery in 1985 to curb tanking, then raised the worst-team odds to 25 % in 1990 and equalized the bottom three teams at 14 % in 2019 while expanding the lottery to four picks. In the 2026 lottery, the Washington Wizards hold that 14 % chance, recalling the 1993 Orlando Magic’s surprise top-pick win.

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Story summary

The Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a 14.0% lottery chance.
BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa and Kansas Darryn Peterson lead the No. 1 race.
Top five: Washington (1), Utah Jazz (2), Memphis Grizzlies (3), Chicago Bulls (4) and LA Clippers (5).
Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs hold four picks, the most of any team.
The draft will feature 60 selections, the first full-60-pick draft since 2021.

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