Winners of tankathon 2026: Inside a wild weekend w...
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- Washington Wizards became the first team to win the NBA draft lottery after finishing with the league's worst record (17‑65) since the lottery format was revamped in 2019.
- John Wall served as the Wizards' representative at the lottery weekend, sharing his superstitious rituals—including cushioned Hanes socks and a mother's necklace tattoo—in hopes of bringing luck.
- Washington Wizards have lost 196 games over the past three seasons and have not reached the conference finals since 1979, underscoring a prolonged period of misfortune dubbed “The Curse O’ Les Boulez.”
- Washington Wizards previously held the best odds to draft Cooper Flagg a year ago, slipped to the sixth pick, and now hold the lottery win.
Why it matters: The Wizards secure a lottery win, ending a three‑year stretch with 196 losses and a 17‑65 record, while other teams miss out on the lottery opportunity.
