Home / Sports / Jazz Lottery Woes: A Decade of Near Misses
Jazz Lottery Woes: A Decade of Near Misses
10 May
Summary
- The Jazz have participated in the lottery nine times since 2010.
- Utah's worst lottery outcome was dropping from pick one to pick eight.
- The Jazz have not moved up in the lottery in 15 years.
The Utah Jazz are set to participate in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, a pivotal moment after a season focused on rebuilding and accumulating losses. Historically, the Jazz's lottery fortunes have been unfavorable, with only one positive result in nine appearances since 2010. Their most significant misfortune occurred when they dropped from the potential first overall pick to eighth, missing out on a franchise-altering selection.
Recent drafts have also seen mixed results. In 2024, Utah fell from eighth to tenth, selecting Cody Williams. The year prior, they held steady at ninth, drafting Taylor Hendricks. In 2023, the Jazz traded their 12th pick, acquired in a three-team deal, for George Hill, who had a limited tenure. Their 2017 draft night trade for Donovan Mitchell, however, stands out as a strategic success, acquiring him with a pick obtained for Trey Lyles.
Looking back further, the 2014 draft saw them select Dante Exum at fifth, missing out on potential All-Stars like Andrew Wiggins. In 2013, they landed at 14th, one spot behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. A notable instance of luck came in 2011 with two picks, one moving from sixth to third. Astonishingly, the Jazz haven't moved up in the lottery with their own pick in 15 years, heightening anticipation for the 2026 draw.
