The Victor Wembanyama factor that delivered Knicks rare NBA lottery win
The New York Knicks have historically struggled in the NBA lottery, having not moved up in the draft since their 1985 win. Despite their past failures, the Knicks have managed to find success in the draft through other means. The recent lottery outcomes highlight the unpredictability of the draft process and the potential for teams to benefit from perceived losses.
- ▪Victor Wembanyama was selected first overall by the Spurs during the 2023 NBA Draft.
- ▪The Knicks have been in the lottery 20 times since their last significant win in 1985.
- ▪In the 2019 lottery, the Knicks dropped from the No. 1 pick to No. 3, missing out on top prospects.
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New York Knicks Mike Vaccaro The Victor Wembanyama factor that delivered Knicks rare NBA lottery win By Mike Vaccaro Published May 19, 2026, 7:34 p.m. ET Victor Wembanyama is selected first overall by the Spurs during the 2023 NBA Draft on June 22, 2023 at Barclays Center. NBAE via Getty Images See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google You don’t always have to actually win the NBA lottery to look back at past lotteries and realize it could have been worse. The poor Nets toppling to the No. 6 pick after tanking two years is a reminder of how inexact a strategy that was even before the league has begun to try to make the lottery a squarer deal.
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