NBA Fans Troll Pistons for Landing No. 5 Pick in 2024 Draft After Having Worst Record

Doric SamMay 12, 2024

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 01: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies at Little Caesars Arena on April 01, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Nic Antaya/Getty Images

For the second consecutive season, the worst record in the NBA wasn't enough to earn the Detroit Pistons the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft.

During Sunday's NBA draft lottery, fortune favored the Atlanta Hawks as they were awarded the No. 1 pick despite having just a three-percent chance of getting the top selection. Meanwhile, the Pistons will be drafting with the No. 5 pick for the second year in a row despite having the best odds of landing the top pick.

Of course, fans on social media wouldn't let the Pistons off the hook after a second straight year in which their abysmal record didn't reap any benefits:

StatMuse @statmuse
Pistons draft lottery results: 2023: — Highest odds of #1 pick — Awarded the #5 pick 2024: — Highest odds of #1 pick — Awarded the #5 pick <a href="https://t.co/zsFUm8sNwe">pic.twitter.com/zsFUm8sNwe</a>

Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Basketball gods looked at what Troy Weaver created and said he deserved no salvation, that's tough

Field Yates @FieldYates
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.

br_betting @br_betting
Worst beat ever? 💀 (via <a href="https://twitter.com/DrGuru_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrGuru_</a>) <a href="https://t.co/w9AtGKL7Sd">pic.twitter.com/w9AtGKL7Sd</a>

Ryan Field @RyanFieldABC
No team had EVER dropped from 1 to 5 in the history of the NBA Draft Lottery… It's now happened to the Detroit Pistons TWO years in a row. Incredible.

Russ' TD ⚡ @RussFcb
Pistons lost 28 straight games just to get the 5th overall pick <a href="https://t.co/Fbn8VJZx2w">pic.twitter.com/Fbn8VJZx2w</a>

Oluwajomiloju @JomiAdeniran
THE PISTONS DID ALL THAT LOSING FOR THE 5TH PICK IN THE DRAFT 😂 <a href="https://t.co/bvjqKgoNUx">pic.twitter.com/bvjqKgoNUx</a>

Sam Ali @SamAliSports
The Detroit Pistons every year at the NBA Draft lottery <a href="https://t.co/eDiJXfxxKE">pic.twitter.com/eDiJXfxxKE</a>

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Pistons are picking 5th this year 😳 <a href="https://t.co/SjDN8ajqrN">pic.twitter.com/SjDN8ajqrN</a>

The Pistons went 14-68 in 2023-24, actually regressing from their 2022-23 campaign in which they posted a 17-65 record. Detroit was expected to turn things around under new head coach Monty Williams, but the veteran struggled to bring the best out of the young roster filled with former lottery picks.

This will be the fourth year in a row that the Pistons have a top-five pick. The team selected forward Ausar Thompson at No. 5 last year and point guard Jaden Ivey at the same spot in 2022, and used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft to select shooting guard Cade Cunningham.

Luckily for Detroit, the sting of losing out on the No. 1 pick won't hurt as much as it did last year, as this year's draft class doesn't include a generational prospect like Victor Wembanyama, who was selected by the San Antonio Spurs and went on to be unanimously voted 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year. The team should have a shot at a talented player who can fill a hole on the roster.

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In his latest mock draft, B/R's Jonathan Wasserman predicted that the Pistons would select French forward Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 9 player on his most recent draft big board.

Detroit is certainly hoping that whoever is chosen with the No. 5 pick in this year's draft is the right player to help lead the franchise out of its lengthy rebuild.