The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets each have a 14% chance to win the lottery because they had the worst regular-season records this season. The lottery doesn't always reward the worst teams with the top picks, however. Just last year, the Dallas Mavericks won the right to draft Cooper Flagg, despite having a 1.8% chance to pick No. 1 entering the lottery. The year before, the Atlanta Hawks won the lottery with 3% odds; they selected Zaccharie Risacher at No. 1.
Here's everything we know about the lottery ahead of the 2026 draft, which is June 23 and 24:
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When and where is the 2026 NBA draft lottery?
The 2026 draft lottery is Sunday, May 10, at the McCormick Place convention center in Chicago. Representatives from the 14 teams in the lottery will be on hand for the results.
What time does the lottery begin?
What are the current lottery odds?
The 14 teams that did not make the playoffs are eligible for the lottery, though two teams traded away their lottery picks. Here are the odds to get the No. 1 overall pick based on how each team finished the regular season:
1. Washington Wizards: 14% chance to pick No. 1 2. Indiana Pacers: 14% 3. Brooklyn Nets: 14% 4. Utah Jazz: 11.5% 5. Sacramento Kings: 11.5% 6. Memphis Grizzlies: 8.0% 7. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): 6.8% 8. Dallas Mavericks: 6.7% 9. Chicago Bulls: 4.5% 10. Milwaukee Bucks: 3% 11. Golden State Warriors: 2% 12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers): 1.5% 13. Miami Heat: 1% 14. Charlotte Hornets: 0.5%