In a stroke of incredible, stunning fortune for a franchise that hasn't seen much of it since their inception, the New Orleans Pelicans were awarded the top overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday night.
The Pelicans entered the lottery with just a six-percent chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick, and just 26 percent chance of landing in the top-four. As the lottery was slowly revealed in reverse order, starting with pick No. 14 and ending with No.1, the Pelicans quickly eclipsed their projection of landing in the No.7-9 range. When it was announced that they were in the top-four, there was already incredible excitement about the Pelicans beating the lottery odds to get near the top of what is expected to be a relatively loaded draft.
It's now all but assured that former Duke star Zion Williamson will be headed to New Orleans. Williamson is widely regarded as the top overall draft prospect not just this season, but perhaps since Anthony Davis came out of Kentucky in 2012. There's little doubt, with this shocking lottery result, and Williamson and Davis will forever be linked together in basketball history.
Whether the two stars ever suit up together in New Orleans remains to be seen, but the future power dynamics in the NBA may have forever shifted in the span of a fateful thirty minutes tonight in Chicago.