The "AD Effect"
In the NBA, superstars dictate the future of franchises. But in the case of Anthony Davis, his departure seems to guarantee something even more valuable: the #1 overall pick.
Following the Washington Wizards' victory in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, NBA Twitter immediately noticed a bizarre, almost supernatural trend. Every time Anthony Davis is traded away, his former team miraculously wins the lottery.
Phase 1: The New Orleans Pelicans (2019)
It all started in 2019. After a messy public trade demand, the Pelicans finally shipped AD to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a massive haul of young players and picks. Despite incredibly low odds, the ping-pong balls bounced perfectly for New Orleans that summer, allowing them to draft a generational prospect in Zion Williamson.
Phase 2: The Los Angeles Lakers (2025)
Fast forward to the 2024-2025 season. In a blockbuster move to reshape their roster, the Lakers traded an aging Anthony Davis. The basketball gods struck again. That ensuing offseason, the Lakers inexplicably won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, securing the rights to the highly touted Cooper Flagg.
Phase 3: The Washington Wizards (2026)
Which brings us to today. After a brief and chaotic stint, Anthony Davis was once again moved, this time departing the Washington Wizards prior to the trade deadline. True to form, the "AD Coincidence" triggered once more. On Tuesday night, the Wizards leaped up the lottery standings to claim the #1 overall pick in 2026.
Curse or Coincidence?
Statisticians will tell you it's pure luck. The odds of this happening three separate times to three different franchises are astronomically low. But for NBA fans who love a good conspiracy theory, the message is clear: if your team needs to rebuild, the fastest path to the #1 pick is acquiring Anthony Davis... just so you can trade him away.