NBA 2026 draft lottery: Live updates as picks are revealed
ESPN • • general
Key Points:
- The 2026 NBA draft lottery is taking place in Chicago, with representatives from all teams present to determine the top pick recipient.
- The Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards each have the highest odds at 14% to secure the No. 1 pick, despite Washington having the worst record at 17-65.
- Since the new lottery system began in 2018-19, no team with the worst record has won the top pick, with recent last-place teams landing the fifth overall pick instead.
- Past lotteries have seen significant jumps, such as the Dallas Mavericks moving up 10 spots last year and the Atlanta Hawks jumping nine spots the year before.
- The NBA may implement a new "3-2-1 lottery" system starting in 2027, featuring expanded lottery teams, flattened odds, and penalties for the bottom three teams to discourage tanking.
