Understanding the NBA Draft Lottery

Since 1985, the NBA has used a lottery system to determine the order of the initial picks in its annual draft. The current format, in place since the 2019 draft, ensures that the team finishing with the worst regular-season record will receive a draft pick no lower than fifth overall.

Under the present rules, the three teams with the poorest regular-season records each have an equal 14% chance of winning the coveted No. 1 pick.

Key Information About the NBA Draft Lottery

When and where is the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery?

The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 12 in Chicago.

Which teams will participate in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery?

The 14 teams that did not qualify for the 2025 playoffs are eligible for the draft lottery process.

These include teams from the Eastern Conference: Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards.

From the Western Conference, the eligible teams are: Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz.

What Are the Current Odds for the Participating Teams?

The probabilities for the 14 teams entering the draft lottery are as follows:

*Pick may be conveyed to Oklahoma City Thunder
**Pick may be conveyed to Atlanta Hawks

How Does the Lottery Process Work?

The NBA`s draft lottery process unfolds in several stages. A drawing is conducted to determine the first four picks in the NBA draft. The remaining teams eligible for the lottery will then select in positions five through fourteen, based on the inverse order of their regular-season records.

The core of the process involves 14 ping-pong balls, each numbered from one to fourteen. These balls are placed into a lottery machine and mixed thoroughly for 20 seconds before the first ball is selected. The remaining balls are mixed for another 10 seconds, and a second ball is drawn. This pattern repeats, with 10 seconds of mixing before the third ball is drawn, and another 10 seconds of mixing before the fourth ball is drawn.

There are a total of 1,001 unique combinations possible when drawing four balls out of 14, without considering the order. Prior to the lottery event, 1,000 of these combinations are assigned to the 14 participating lottery teams. The team that holds the combination matching the balls drawn in the process receives the No. 1 overall pick. This same drawing procedure is repeated independently to determine the teams receiving the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 picks.

A representative from the accounting firm Ernst & Young supervises the entire drawing process to ensure fairness and transparency. The results of the lottery are kept confidential and are not shared with anyone outside the drawing room until the envelopes are opened during the live television broadcast.

How Were Draft Picks Determined Before the Lottery?

From 1966 through 1984, the NBA utilized a different method. The team with the worst record in each conference would participate in a coin flip to decide which team received the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. The team that lost the coin flip would automatically receive the No. 2 pick. The selections for all other teams were then made in the reverse order of their regular-season standings.

When is the 2025 NBA Draft?

The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place on June 25-26 in Brooklyn. The first round will be held on June 25, with television coverage on ABC and ESPN. The second round will follow on June 26, aired on ESPN.

Notable Recent No. 1 Overall Picks from the Lottery Era

Here are some of the teams that have secured the top selection in recent draft lotteries and the players they chose:

• 2024: Atlanta Hawks – Zaccharie Risacher
• 2023: San Antonio Spurs – Victor Wembanyama
• 2022: Orlando Magic – Paolo Banchero
• 2021: Detroit Pistons – Cade Cunningham
• 2020: Minnesota Timberwolves – Anthony Edwards
• 2019: New Orleans Pelicans – Zion Williamson
• 2018: Phoenix Suns – Deandre Ayton
• 2017: Boston Celtics (pick acquired via trade) – Markelle Fultz (selected by Philadelphia 76ers after pick was traded)
• 2016: Philadelphia 76ers – Ben Simmons
• 2015: Minnesota Timberwolves – Karl-Anthony Towns
• 2014: Cleveland Cavaliers – Andrew Wiggins
• 2013: Cleveland Cavaliers – Anthony Bennett
• 2012: New Orleans Hornets – Anthony Davis
• 2011: Cleveland Cavaliers – Kyrie Irving
• 2010: Washington Wizards – John Wall
• 2009: LA Clippers – Blake Griffin
• 2008: Chicago Bulls – Derrick Rose
• 2007: Portland Trail Blazers – Greg Oden
• 2006: Toronto Raptors – Andrea Bargnani
• 2005: Milwaukee Bucks – Andrew Bogut
• 2004: Orlando Magic – Dwight Howard
• 2003: Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James
• 2002: Houston Rockets – Yao Ming
• 2001: Washington Wizards – Kwame Brown
• 2000: New Jersey Nets – Kenyon Martin
• 1999: Chicago Bulls – Elton Brand
• 1998: LA Clippers – Michael Olowokandi
• 1997: San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan
• 1996: Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Iverson
• 1995: Golden State Warriors – Joe Smith
• 1994: Milwaukee Bucks – Glenn Robinson
• 1993: Orlando Magic – Chris Webber
• 1992: Orlando Magic – Shaquille O`Neal
• 1991: Charlotte Hornets – Larry Johnson
• 1990: New Jersey Nets – Derrick Coleman
• 1989: Sacramento Kings – Pervis Ellison
• 1988: LA Clippers – Danny Manning
• 1987: San Antonio Spurs – David Robinson
• 1986: Philadelphia 76ers (pick traded to Cleveland Cavaliers) – Brad Daugherty (selected by Cleveland Cavaliers)
• 1985: New York Knicks – Patrick Ewing

Top Prospects to Watch for the 2025 NBA Draft

Basketball experts anticipate several players could be high lottery selections in the 2025 draft. Among those frequently projected as top-five picks are:

• Cooper Flagg, Duke
• Dylan Harper, Rutgers
• Airious `Ace` Bailey, Rutgers
• VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
• Tre Johnson, Texas