The 2023 NBA Draft Lottery was a bust for the Chicago Bulls. No, not in the Denzel Valentine sort of way, but in the sense that the Bulls did not retain control over their own pick. Chicago’s selection was top-four protected with just an 8.5 percent chance of jumping up. Ultimately, it did not.
In turn, their pick will be handed over to the Orlando Magic, who traded for it in the 2021 deal that saw Chicago land Nikola Vucevic. However, not everybody knew that the Bulls lost their pick when it was announced. The NBA Draft Lottery show tricked two hopeful Bulls fans from CHGO Sports, Matt Peck and Big Dave, and their reactions went mini-viral.
When the team selecting 11th overall was revealed, the Magic’s logo popped up on the screen. This led the two fans to believe that Chicago had jumped into the top four, but the logo simply showed that the Bulls’ pick conveyed to Orlando.
Bulls fans go berserk, misinterpret NBA Draft Lottery show
It was a painful watch as the two fans erupted in cheers when they saw Orlando’s logo on their screen. One hesitates momentarily, debating whether or not Chicago jumped up, but then the false hope kicks in again.
Just another soul-crushing moment in the life of Bulls fans.
That was real low, @NBA #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/Ucuv7bBwmN
— CHGO Bulls (@CHGO_Bulls) May 17, 2023
This wasn't the first time these Bulls fans were fooled
Apparently, this isn’t the first time these Bulls fans were fooled, either. Two years ago, when the Bulls owed the Magic their 2021 first from the same Vucevic deal, the same fans believed Chicago had jumped up. In reality, the pick remained in place, and the Magic selected Franz Wagner.
They explained their confusion in response to a reply to the original video:
1. TV was muted while we were live
2. All we saw was not the Bulls logo as it was being revealed.
3…..we may have been a tad excited too early. Once the lid blew off, there was no focusing on reality 🤣
4. They need to change this dumb system with the logos of traded picks. https://t.co/mthuV1fGta
— CHGO Bulls (@CHGO_Bulls) May 17, 2023
Lessons to be learned for Bulls fans
The lesson to take away from this is to always read the fine print. The draft card donning the Magic’s logo stated that it was by way of the Bulls. It was simply below the image.
Unfortunately, Peck and Dave will never get those fleeting moments of joy back when they thought the Bulls had a chance to draft Victor Wembanyama.
Fortunately, the viral clip should help ease the pain.
