The Worst Teams of the NBA 2022-23 Season

Sigh. You’d think having the worst record in the league would give you better odds of landing the first overall pick in the draft lottery. That wasn’t the case for the Detroit Pistons who put up only 17 wins this year, had a 14 percent chance of winning the lottery, and ended up with the fifth pick. The first blow to the team was when Cade Cunningham injured his shin twelve games into the new season and was out for the year. Up to that point, the two-year point guard was improving from his rookie year, averaging 19.9 points and six assists. But his loss affected the team, and they were putrid all year. Season lowlights included two (count them, two) 11-game losing streaks, the third worst in the league, ranking last in field goal percentage, next to last in field goals made, 28^th in both offensive and defensive rating, 29^th in points scored (110.3), 25^th in turnovers (15.1), 27^th in assists, and 29^th in plus-minus. Such a poor showing on the court forced coach Dwane Casey to step down, and it doesn’t look like anyone is clamoring for the position at the moment. But, whoever inherits this mess of a franchise can look forward to developing a returning Cunningham and two-guard Jaden Ivey, who finished his rookie year with a solid 16.3 points on 41 percent shooting, as well as whoever they choose in next month’s draft.