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Zion Williamson Sends Clear Message on Cooper Flagg's NBA Draft Lottery

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated May 12, 2025 7:32 PM ET

After recording a 21-61 record in the 2024-25 NBA season, Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans failed to make the postseason for the second time in three years.

Now, the Pelicans will look toward the 2025 NBA Draft, where they hope to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in Monday night's lottery.

The top prize for the NBA lottery winner will likely be Duke Blue Devils All-American forward Cooper Flagg, who finished his lone college basketball season with a Final Four loss to Houston.

In his one year with Duke, Flagg, the 6-foot-9 freshman out of Newport, Maine, led the Blue Devils to a first-place finish in the ACC, tallying a 35-4 overall record. Averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, Flagg has become the clear choice as the top draft pick.

Finishing with the fourth-worst record in the NBA this season, the Pelicans have a 12.5% chance of winning the No. 1 pick. Only three teams have better odds at 14%, including the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz.

Williamson, also a former No. 1 pick out of Duke, represented New Orleans in Monday night's lottery in Chicago. Before the event, he shared a message to fans, hoping for some "good luck" as Flagg awaits his future team.

"What's going on, Pels fans?" Williamson said. "It's Zion Williamson and I'm here at the NBA Draft lottery... I'm here bringing us good luck because... I mean, what else needs to be said?"

Zion at the @NBA Draft Lottery tonight!

: #NBADraftLottery: 6 pm CT - ESPN pic.twitter.com/OF4WPs1DsM
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) May 12, 2025

The Pelicans have been relatively fortunate in the draft lottery over the past 15 years. In 2012, they received the No. 1 pick, which turned into All-NBA forward Anthony Davis, who was later traded away. In 2019, they got the top pick again, selecting Williamson.

But New Orleans has not been able to do much with their two stars, only making four postseasons since 2012, reaching the second round just once.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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