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The San Antonio Spurs have won the 2023 NBA draft lottery, securing the number one pick for the first time since 1997. The moment was captured on video by KENS 5 Spurs reporter Tom Petrini, who was at a local bar with some die-hard Spurs fans. The video went viral on social media, showing the ecstatic reaction of the fans as they celebrated the rare opportunity to land a franchise-changing player.
Was the 2023 NBA Drift Rigged?
However, not everyone was happy with the outcome of the lottery. Some conspiracy theorists have accused the NBA of rigging the draft in favor of the Spurs, who have been struggling to make the playoffs in recent years. They claim that the league wanted to reward the Spurs for their loyalty and professionalism, and to boost their marketability with a potential superstar.
They also pointed out that both the Detroit Pistons and Rockets missed out on a top three draft pick, despite having the worst records in the league. At the same time Portland who won 40% of their games with 33 victories on the season managed to get the third pick. Meanwhile Hornets who had a better record than both Detroit and Rockets got the second draft pick.
The most likely candidate for the number one pick is Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-3 center from France who has been dominating the international scene with his combination of size, skill and athleticism. Wembanyama is widely regarded as a generational talent who could transform any team he joins. The Spurs, who have a history of developing foreign players, would be an ideal fit for him.
The Top 10 picks in the 2023 NBA draft were in order:
- San Antonio Spurs
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Houston Rockets
- Detroit Pistons
- Orlando Magic
- Indiana Pacers
- Washington Wizards
The Pistons had the worst record in the league with only 17 wins, which gave them the statistically greatest chance to get that coveted first pick. Spurs and Rockets were tied for the second worse records in the league with only 20 wins. The fact that both Rockets and Detroit Pistons missed out on a top 3 pick is a bit, while Portland and Charlotte didn’t is strange, but also is something that statistically could happen. Do you think the 2023 NBA Draft was rigged?
