Democracy Dies in Darkness

Wizards just miss No. 1 pick again but land top consolation prize this time

After the worst season in franchise history, the Wizards secured the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft at Sunday’s lottery.

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The Wizards narrowly missed landing the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, but they came home with a good consolation prize. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
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CHICAGO — The Washington Wizards endured the ultimate heartbreak at last year’s NBA draft lottery, coming up one ping-pong ball short of earning the right to select French phenom Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick.

History repeated Sunday at this year’s lottery drawing, held at a Chicago convention center, as the Wizards again came up one ball shy of the No. 1 pick, which surprisingly went to the Atlanta Hawks. This time, though, Washington secured the No. 2 pick, a consolation prize that significantly softened the blow during a year in which there is not a consensus top prospect. The Houston Rockets won the right to select third, and the San Antonio Spurs landed the fourth pick.