2023 NBA Draft Lottery Odds: What are Each Team’s Chances to Land Victor Wembanyama?

The 2023 NBA Draft lottery is set for tonight, Tuesday, May 16, and this year, there is a clear prize for the team getting the No. 1 overall pick. Here, we track the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery odds offered at FanDuel for all 14 teams eligible to be the landing spot for the consensus No. 1 prospect, Victor Wembanyama.

Although 14 teams are mathematically alive to receive the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, the odds favor those with the worst records in the league. The Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs all share the best true probability of landing the top pick (14%). The other 11 teams are given lesser odds, depending on their regular season record.

While bettors can place wagers on the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, the table below illustrates how the odds offered by sportsbooks put the edge in their favor against the bettors.

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NBA Draft Lottery: FanDuel’s Betting Odds vs. True Odds 

During the NBA Draft Lottery, we get to see the official draft order from the 14 teams that missed the playoffs, and this season, all eyes will be on who receives the top pick.

Here are the odds of getting the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft from FanDuel Sportsbook. As you can see, the probability of each outcome implied by the betting odds is larger than the true probability. That difference represents the sportsbook’s edge over the bettor.

No. 1 Overall NBA Draft Pick Odds

The clear favorite to be the first pick in the draft is Wembanyama. The French superstar is seen as a “unicorn”, as he plays like a guard but does so with a 7-foot-2 frame. Not only can he score at all three levels, but he also can create a shot from anywhere on the court. 

Wembanyama also has elite footwork, and his size makes him a shot-blocking threat. Many experts have compared him to Kevin Durant, a tall and athletic pure-scorer, but Wembanyama is a few inches taller, and he has flashed elite play on both ends of the court at an early age.

He is an overwhelming favorite to be the top pick in the draft. His -20000 odds mean a $200 bet wins you just $1, something not many bettors are interested in. If you want to take a shot on a different player, here are the odds from FanDuel Sportsbook to be the No. 1 overall pick in June’s NBA Draft. 

Odds to be No. 2 Pick in NBA Draft

This year, the NBA Draft does not really start until the second overall pick. With Wembenyama heavily favored to be the top pick, bettors can find value in the odds of being the second overall pick. Other top prospects include Alabama’s Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson from G League Ignite. 

Here are the odds of being the No. 2 overall pick from FanDuel Sportsbook.

How the NBA Draft Lottery Works

The NBA Draft Lottery is a randomized system of determining the draft order for the 14 teams who did not make the postseason. Instead of regular-season records, the NBA utilizes a ping-pong ball system. There are 14 numbered ping pong balls — four will be drawn, and there are 1,001 possible combinations of numbers.

Before the lottery begins, 1,000 combinations are assigned to the teams, and four lottery balls will be drawn, with the order determining who gets the top selection in the draft. For example, if the Detroit Pistons’ combination of numbers is 1-2-3-4, and those are the four lottery balls selected, they will get the No. 1 overall pick.

This same process will determine who gets the second through fourth picks, with the remaining order determined by regular-season record. NBA.com offers a more detailed explanation.

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How To Watch 2023 NBA Draft Lottery

Leading up to Lakers vs. Nuggets Game 1, which tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET, the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery will be broadcast on ESPN. The actual lottery occurs behind closed doors before the draft order is announced live on ESPN.

Previous NBA No. 1 Overall Selections

Here is a list of first-overall picks since 2000.

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NBA Draft Lottery FAQ