No Number 1 luck: these 6 NBA teams have never won the top pick in the Draft

The NBA Draft Lottery is where hope gets televised. Every spring, ping-pong balls offer a shot at transformation. One bounce can land a generational star, or at least someone worth pretending is one for a few seasons. But not every team has tasted that high-stakes luck.

While franchises like the Cleveland Cavaliers (four No. 1 picks since 2003) or the Orlando Magic (three since 1992) have built entire eras off lottery breaks, six teams have never held the top overall pick in the NBA Draft. Never. Not once. Even when the odds favored them.

Which NBA teams have never picked first in the draft?

Here are the six ‘unlucky’ franchises still chasing that elusive top slot: the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Utah Jazz.

The Miami Heat, winners of three NBA titles and frequent playoff threats, have managed just fine without ever landing No. 1. The closest they came was in 2008, when they picked second and took Michael Beasley. That same year, the Chicago Bulls leapfrogged from the ninth slot to grab Derrick Rose at No. 1. Ouch.

The Indiana Pacers, a proud small-market franchise with a loyal fan base and one Finals appearance, have never picked higher than No. 2. That was back in 1988, when they took Rik Smits. Since then, it’s been a lot of middle-of-the-pack picks and a surprising allergy to tanking.

The Utah Jazz have been one of the most stable franchises over the decades, but stability hasn’t helped their lottery luck. They came close in 2005, picking third and selecting Deron Williams. Not bad, but not Dwight Howard.

The Denver Nuggets, reigning champions in 2023, have never needed a No. 1 pick to build a contender. Their best-ever pick came at No. 3 in 2003 (Carmelo Anthony), and of course, they struck gold in the second round with Nikola Jokic at pick 41. So they’re not complaining. But statistically? Still shut out.

The Memphis Grizzlies, including their Vancouver days, have had multiple high picks - Ja Morant at No. 2, Pau Gasol at No. 3 – but never the top one. In 2003, they even won the lottery but had to forfeit the pick to Detroit due to an earlier trade. The Pistons used it to take Darko Milicic. So technically: win, then lose.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics, have never had the first pick in the NBA draft. However, they’ve managed to secure some great players in spite of that. Most notably, the team drafted Kevin Durant with the No. 2 pick in 2007 while still under the Seattle SuperSonics logo. In addition, the team drafted James Harden with the No. 3 pick in 2009 and Russell Westbrook with the No. 4 pick in 2008.

Does draft lottery history actually matter?

In some ways, no. Several teams on this list have built successful rosters without a No. 1 pick. Miami won big with second-rounder Glen Rice and undrafted finds like Udonis Haslem. Denver’s core includes multiple players who weren’t lottery picks at all.

But the fact remains: a No. 1 pick can sometimes be like a cheat code. LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal – these guys changed everything from the moment they arrived. Even less-than-legendary top picks can serve as key trade assets.

With the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery dropping on Monday, May 12, one of these franchises might finally get their break. The Utah Jazz – along with the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets – have the best chances of getting the 2025 No. 1 pick. Then again, if history holds, the ping-pong balls might bounce elsewhere... once again.

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