Ausar Thompson, fans in disbelief as Detroit Pistons fall to No. 5 pick again in NBA draft
The Detroit Pistons are NBA draft lottery losers after a season of historic shortcomings — again.
In Sunday's NBA draft lottery, the Pistons fell the maximum slots possible in the current system. The Pistons had the best odds for the No. 1 overall pick, 14%, after finishing 14-68, the worst record in franchise history, in 2023-24.
It is the second year in a row the Pistons have slid from the No. 1 spot to No. 5. Last year, the Pistons lost out on the lottery and a chance to select Victor Wembanyama, ending up with Ausar Thompson at five instead.
The Pistons, Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers all fell out of the top four, getting leapfrogged by the San Antonio Spurs at No. 4, the Houston Rockets at No. 3 and the Atlanta Hawks at No. 1. The Washington Wizards, who had the second-worst record (and 14% odds for No. 1) remained at No. 2.
Detroit and their incoming president of basketball operations — who has yet to be hired — will have its work cut out after falling to No. 5. Detroit finished with the worst record in the NBA for the second straight year and reached the low point in franchise history despite having a collection of young talent led by former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham.
All of that for the fifth pick. Woof. Thompson's reaction as the Pistons' representative on the stage in Chicago says it all.
Ausar Thompson's reaction to the Pistons' getting the fifth pick 😮 pic.twitter.com/zsf4Pivqfv
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 12, 2024
🙃
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 12, 2024
The basketball gods have yet to relent on the Pistons, and fans are resigned to the misery while the rest of the NBA world points and laughs like Nelson Muntz in "The Simpsons."
31 combined wins over the past 2 seasons and 2 number 5 picks to show for it
Incredible— PistonsThoughts (@PistonsThoughts) May 12, 2024
Atlanta Hawks make the play in: 1st pick
Pistons win 14 games: 5th pick— nick (@nsitto2) May 12, 2024
Im sorry Pistons fans
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) May 12, 2024
The Pistons have now had the NBA’s worst record in back-to-back years and landed the 5th pick in the lottery on both occasions. Brutal luck.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 12, 2024
OMG the Pistons got screwed again
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 12, 2024
The Detroit Pistons every year at the NBA Draft lottery pic.twitter.com/eDiJXfxxKE
— Sam Ali (@SamAliSports) May 12, 2024
Pistons lost 28 straight games just to get the 5th overall pick pic.twitter.com/Fbn8VJZx2w
— Russ' TD ⚡ (@RussFcb) May 12, 2024
pistons fans watching their team have a historically bad season only to not even get a top 4 pick pic.twitter.com/xOKRY8hfeR
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) May 12, 2024
Pistons had the worst record in ball AGAIN and fell out of top 4 AGAIN at what point do you stop watching the sport
— RB Insiders (RBSPN) (@RyB_311) May 12, 2024
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons' 'brutal luck' continues with ANOTHER NBA draft lottery slide