The Utah Jazz are gearing up for the much-anticipated NBA draft lottery on Monday, a pivotal moment for the franchise following a challenging season. With a 14.1% chance of securing the No. 1 pick, the team is tied with the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets for the best odds to land the top selection.
Co-owner Ashley Smith will be the lucky charm for the Jazz, representing the team on stage during the lottery. Her husband, Ryan Smith, expressed optimism in a recent interview, hopeful that Ashley’s presence will bring good fortune. “My lucky charm, Ashley, is going to go represent [the] Jazz,” he shared.
On the other hand, general manager Justin Zanik will be in the lottery room, where the process involves selecting four pingpong balls from a mix of 14 labeled balls. These selections will ultimately determine the first four picks in the draft. If the Jazz do not have their numbers drawn in any of the four rounds, they could end up with the fifth pick.
Winning the lottery would significantly enhance the Jazz’s prospects, allowing them to potentially draft top talent such as Cooper Flagg from Duke, who is widely seen as the premier player in the 2025 class. Notably, the Jazz have never had the No. 1 overall pick before, making this lottery particularly critical for the franchise’s future.
The draft lottery will take place in Chicago, with ESPN set to provide live coverage starting at 5 p.m. MDT. As the anticipation builds, Jazz fans are hopeful that their team will turn the page on a tough year and emerge with transformative talent.
Overall, the event represents a chance for renewal and optimism as the Jazz look to reshape their future and capture the attention of a dedicated fan base.