NBA approve new draft lottery format to begin next season, reports say

The landscape of the NBA draft is set for a massive transformation. Following a decisive vote by the league's Board of Governors, the NBA is officially moving forward with an overhaul of its draft lottery format, aimed at curbing tanking and refreshing the selection process.

Expansion and New Rules

Starting next season, the NBA’s draft lottery is expanding from 14 to 16 teams. This updated pool will now include both No. 8 seeds from the Eastern and Western Conferences. Additionally, the league is introducing a “3-2-1” ball distribution system for the final three teams remaining in the lottery sequence.

Vote Breakdown and Tanking Deterrents

The measure passed by a near-unanimous 29-1 margin, with the Memphis Grizzlies casting the lone dissenting vote. To further discourage teams from intentionally losing games, the three teams with the worst records will now face a floor of picking no lower than 12th in the draft. Under the new math, these three squads will receive two ping pong balls, while teams with the fourth through 10th worst records will receive three.

Impact on Repeat Winners

The league is also cracking down on consecutive lottery success. Moving forward, teams are prohibited from winning the draft lottery in back-to-back seasons, which immediately impacts the Washington Wizards. Furthermore, teams that have held a top-five pick for three consecutive years will face restrictions; this new rule effectively bars the Utah Jazz from securing a top-five selection in the upcoming draft.