Pistons get ultimate meme treatment after brutal NBA Draft Lottery result
Dec 2, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
It wasn’t enough for the Detroit Pistons to just get completely hosed in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery. The team also had to endure the endless clowning from fans on X.
The Pistons entered Sunday’s lottery tied with the Washington Wizards for the best odds to be awarded a top-four pick. Each team had a 14.0% chance to win the first pick and a 52.1% chance to nab a top-four selection.
The Atlanta Hawks were the big winners, jumping from 10th to 1st in the lottery.
The Wizards snagged the 2nd pick, while the Pistons made the wrong kind of history by falling all the way to 5th. It’s the second year in a row the Pistons fell out of the top four despite having the best lottery odds.
The Pistons got utterly dunked on by fans on X. The memes mocking the Motor City came fast and furious.
The Detroit Pistons every year at the NBA Draft lottery pic.twitter.com/eDiJXfxxKE
— Sam Ali (@SamAliSports) May 12, 2024
Pistons had the worst record in franchise history and ended up with the 5th pick pic.twitter.com/kngizZkK0h
— Sir Kevin…Lord of The Washed Up (@Kev_42B) May 12, 2024
Pistons lost 28 straight games just to get the 5th overall pick pic.twitter.com/Fbn8VJZx2w
— Russ' TD ⚡ (@RussFcb) May 12, 2024
Pistons had the worst record in ball AGAIN and fell out of top 4 AGAIN at what point do you stop watching the sport
— RB Insiders (RBSPN) (@RyB_311) May 12, 2024
Some fans expressed sympathy for the Pistons, who bottomed out in a franchise-worst 14-68 season without a top pick to show for it.
i know the NBA allegedly “DOESN’T” rig the draft but like… for the pistons sake… maybe they should
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) May 12, 2024
Im sorry Pistons fans
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) May 12, 2024
Nobody took the lottery result worse than Pistons fans themselves.
Some of them even anticipated the worst-case scenario result beforehand to minimize the heartbreak. That proved to be a wise decision.
My Pistons lose 6,000 games in a row, and end up with the 5th pick … just like last year. I just keep telling myself the pain is part of the process. pic.twitter.com/v2M69MKmZr
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 12, 2024
I’ve already accepted the Pistons are getting the 5th pick so I won’t be hurt when it happens: pic.twitter.com/13mCigVzF6
— Mob (@MobHoops) May 12, 2024
The Pistons do have some promising young pieces in Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Jaden Ivey. Last year’s fifth-overall selection Ausar Thompson also showed flashes of potential in his rookie season. But the Pistons’ rebuild still appears to be going nowhere fast at this point in time.