Rockets win third pick in NBA Draft Lottery

The Houston Rockets completed another lucky season in the NBA Draft Lottery, landing the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Head coach Ime Udoka represented Houston in the lottery for the second year in a row.

The team entered the lottery with a relative chance of landing a high pick. Their highest-ranked selection, which they acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in the 2021 James Harden trade, had a 20.3% chance of making the top four and a 4.5% chance of win first place.

The No. 1 overall selection went to the Atlanta Hawks. The Washington Wizards won the second spot and the San Antonio Spurs will have the fourth pick after Houston. The Detroit Pistons – who entered the lottery with the worst record in 2023-24 and the highest chance of landing the top pick – will pick at No. 5 overall.

The Rockets had a slim chance of winning another lottery selection, but they would have had to finish in the top four as well. Instead, he landed at No. 12 and was dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder, as part of the 2021 Chris Paul/Russell Westbrook trade.

This will be the fourth straight year the Rockets have been in the top four. Their last three top picks were Jalen Green, Jabari Smith and Amen Thompson.