Wiz of Awes
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Washington Wizards Rewind: Ranking the past five lottery selections

By Jack Skolnik

NEW YORK - JUNE 24: NBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo prior to the NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden on June 24, 2010 in New York City. 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 Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - JUNE 24: NBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo prior to the NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden on June 24, 2010 in New York City. 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 Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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1. John Wall (2010 NBA Draft)

Lottery Odds: 5th best odds (10.3%)
Selection: 1st overall

Surprise, Surprise. The number one choice on our list for best lottery picks is the guy we selected the Wizards drafted number one overall.

Ten years ago, 14 teams attended the draft lottery hoping their ping-pong ball would take the right bounce and allow them to draft John Wall first overall. The Kentucky point guard had just finished a phenomenal freshman season and was to take over the NBA. But in what jersey?

Going into the lottery, the Wizards had a slim chance of getting the top pick. Luckily, the Wizards got the break they needed.

With the help Of Irene Polin, the wife of former Wizards owner Abe Polin, the Wizards miraculously won the 2010 Draft Lottery and the rights to draft John Wall.

You can skip to about the 6:45 mark to watch Mrs. Polin’s priceless reaction!

Wall was expected to save the franchise and pull the Wizards out of the gutter after the Gilbert Arenas era ended. Despite not always having a great roster around him, Wall has been dominant in D.C.

Wall has made five All-Star appearances, made and All-Defensive Team, and was 3rd team All-NBA in 2016-2017.

That same season, Wall led the Wizards to 49 wins (their most since 1978-79), a division title (their first since 1979), and had them within one game of the Eastern Conference Finals. As of right now, that memorable series vs. the Boston Celtics is the peak of his Wizards career, despite losing game 7. His buzzer-beating game-winner in the closing seconds of Game 6, though, is a shot that will live in Wizards history forever.

Through it all, few players – if any – have embraced this city and this franchise quite like John Wall. Regardless of how you may view currently view John Wall, his injury history, and his gaudy contract, you cannot take away from what he has done in his ten-year tenure here. Regardless of where his career may go from here, John has been everything you could ask of him, given the circumstances that have surrounded him.

Everything you need to know about the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery. dark. Next

If nobody else wants to give him the credit he deserves, then I will!

Thank you, John Wall!

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