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The NBA has awarded the San Antonio Spurs the 12th-best draft lottery odds following a randomized drawing of team-identified ping pong balls earlier this afternoon, per Jonathan Givony of Draft Express.
NBA Draft tiebreaker results:
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 25, 2021
No. 11 pick: Charlotte Hornets
No. 12 pick: San Antonio Spurs
(pre-lottery drawing)
The Spurs and Hornets lost in the play-in tournament, finished with identical records, and split the season series 1-1, making a tiebreaker necessary for determining which team received the 11th and 12th-best odds at the 2021 Draft Lottery.
The Silver and Black have made four lottery selections since the league instated the lottery system in 1985, and this marks the first time they will have a lottery pick in consecutive drafts in franchise history.
Last season, PATFO added Devin Vassell with the 11th overall pick, and standouts like Kai Jones, Corey Kispert, Alperen Sengun, Franz Wagner, and Usman Garuba might be realistic targets for San Antonio if they stay put in the lottery this season.
The 2021 NBA Draft Lottery will broadcast live on ESPN at 7:30 PM CST on June 22. And although the Spurs only have a 1.7% chance of winning the first overall pick, crazier things have happened, so keep your fingers crossed for good luck.
Should San Antonio move into the top four, a trajectory-altering talent could await them. Cade Cunningham is the best prospect by a country mile. But Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, and Jonathan Kuminga provide plenty of upside for a team lacking a franchise cornerstone.