The Chicago Bulls didn't have much of a chance to win the NBA Draft Lottery, but they beat the odds on Tuesday night and will have the top pick in next month's draft, the dpa reported.
The Bulls finished last season with a 33-49 record and had just 17 ping pong balls out of 1,000 in the lottery system - a 1.7 per cent chance - of landing the top pick.
However, they jumped from the ninth spot and will have the top choice in the June 26 NBA Draft for just the second time in Bulls' history since taking Elton Brand in 1999.
This year's draft is considered a two-man race between speedy point guard Derrick Rose of Memphis and Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.
Rose averaged 14.9 points with 4.7 assists as the Tigers finished runnerup to Kansas for the national title. Beasley, meanwhile averaged 26.5 points and grabbed an NCAA-best 12.5 rebounds in his freshman season.
"We're very excited," said Steve Schanwald, Bulls executive vice president of business operations, who represented the team in Secaucus, New Jersey. "Either way we go, I think we're going to get a great player and the Chicago Bulls fans are gong to see another great player added to the mix."
The Bulls will also be looking to hire a new coach since firing Scott Skiles in December, and dismissing interim Jim Boylan after the season.
The lowly Miami Heat, finished with the league's worst mark at 15-67, and had the best chance of winning the lottery at 25 per cent. However, form failed to hold true for the 12th time since the format began in 1994 and will pick second.
Minnesota, Seattle and Memphis pick three through fifth, followed by New York, the LA Clippers, Milwaukee, Charlotte, New Jersey, Indiana, Sacramento, Portland and Golden State.