Me thinks the basketball gods have always had a soft spot for the Los Angeles Lakers.
My other favorite team in the Association, the Miami Heat, probably can’t even get those same gods to return a phone call.
That reality hit me again after the NBA wrapped up the 2027 Draft Lottery and USA Today Sports released its ranking of the luckiest and unluckiest lottery franchises in league history.
No surprise who sat at the very top—the Lakers.
No surprise either who occupied the basement—the Heat.
The Purple and Gold have moved up in the lottery three times, stayed in place four times, and dropped only once. Overall, the Lakers average moving up 1.13 spots per lottery appearance—the best mark in the NBA.
The San Antonio Spurs were second at plus-1.10, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers at plus-1.00, Houston Rockets at plus-0.85, and Oklahoma City Thunder at plus-0.61.
Meanwhile, the Heat are dead last among all 30 teams.
Miami has never moved up in lottery history—never! The Heat stayed put six times and dropped four times for an average of minus-0.90 spots per lottery appearance.
The New York Knicks were next-to-last at minus-0.79, followed by Detroit and Minnesota at minus-0.73, the Denver Nuggets at minus-0.67, and the Washington Wizards, who ironically will own the top pick this year’s NBA Draft, at minus-0.50.
That pretty much sums up the relationship both my teams have with lottery ping-pong balls.
The Lakers walk into the room and the basketball gods start handing out gifts.
The Heat walk in and security probably asks them for ID.
Yet somehow both franchises became models of sustained success in the NBA.
That’s what makes the comparison fascinating to me.
The Lakers have selected only three players with the No. 1 overall pick in franchise history—three.
But what a trio—Elgin Baylor in 1958, Magic Johnson in 1979, and James Worthy in 1982.
Baylor helped transform the franchise into a contender. Magic became the face of Showtime and arguably the greatest point guard ever. Worthy became “Big Game James” and a Hall of Famer himself.
Three No. 1 picks and three legends.
And because fortune apparently enjoys wearing purple and gold, the Lakers also became home to numerous other former top overall picks acquired later in their careers.
And it reads like the top players in any given era—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis, and Deandre Ayton. OK, I’m stretching it on the latter.
The rich getting richer has practically been the Lakers’ business model for decades.
Miami, meanwhile, has never even held the No. 1 overall pick.
The closest the Heat ever came was in 2008 when they entered the lottery with the league’s worst record and still slid to No. 2 before selecting Michael Beasley. Imagine if they got the No. 1 pick and got Derrick Rose what would a Rose and Dwyane Wade backcourt be? Only the Heat can lose a lottery before draft night even starts.
Still, Miami found a way to build a powerhouse without lottery blessings.
Wade was drafted fifth overall in 2003 and became the greatest player in franchise history.
Other notably Heat draftees include Bam Adebayo came at No. 14, Tyler Herro at No. 13, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. at No. 18.
The Lakers shop at Beverly Hills.
The Heat shop at clearance racks and somehow still leave with quality merchandise.
Of course, Miami also benefited from former No. 1 picks eventually making their way to South Beach.
LeBron James delivered two championships during the “Big Three” era.
Shaq teamed up with Wade to bring home Miami’s first NBA title in 2006.
Greg Oden attempted a comeback there, but with 70-year-old legs due to injury, he didn’t do much for The Godfather Pat Riley and our kababayan Erik Spoelsta.
Andrew Wiggins now wears Heat colors too.
Still, unlike the Lakers, Miami never had the luxury of building around a homegrown No. 1 overall superstar.
The Heat had to grind for everything. Maybe that’s why I appreciate both organizations so much. Come to think of it, it seems to have rekindled my adoration of Tinseltown despite LeBenedict Arnold still there.
The Lakers represent glamour, history, and basketball destiny. The Heat represent toughness, player development, and pure stubbornness.
One franchise wins the lottery. The other wins through culture.
And me thinks that’s what makes the Association beautiful, as there’s more than one way to build greatness.
