The NBA draft lottery has been used since 1985 to determine the first several picks of the league’s annual draft. The current system ensures that the team with the worst regular-season record receives no lower than the fifth pick in that summer’s draft, while teams with the three worst records have a 14% chance of winning the No. 1 pick.
Here are key facts to know about the NBA draft lottery:
The 2025 NBA draft lottery will be held on May 12 in Chicago, starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The participating teams are the 14 non-playoff teams from each conference, including the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Dallas Mavericks.
Fans can watch the lottery on ESPN’s streaming hub or through their TV provider. The odds for each team are as follows:
– Utah Jazz (17-65), 14%
– Washington Wizards (18-64), 14%
– Charlotte Hornets (19-63), 14%
– New Orleans Pelicans (21-61), 12.5%
– Philadelphia 76ers (24-58), 10.5%
– Brooklyn Nets (26-56), 9%
– Toronto Raptors (30-52), 7.5%
– San Antonio Spurs (34-48), 6%
The lottery process involves multiple phases, including drawings to determine the first four picks and a ping-pong ball system for the remaining teams. A representative from Ernst & Young oversees the entire process.
In previous years, top picks have gone to teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, and Orlando Magic. This year’s draft is expected to feature prospects like Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44921796/nba-draft-lottery-format-history-key-facts