SportsPreview
The biggest question facing every WNBA team in training camp
WNBA training camps open with key questions for each team.
ESPN News1 min read
Sports
2026 NBA Draft Lottery: Odds, Date, Protections and More
TL;DR
The 2026 NBA Draft lottery is set with teams like the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers having the highest odds for a top pick. The lottery will determine the order of selection in a historically strong draft class.
After months of the discourse furing the 2025-26 NBA season regarding the blatant tanking by teams across the league, the regular season has now drawn to a close. It’s a loaded draft class that could prove historically good, which is why teams seemed to intentionally tank games to improve their 2026 NBA Draft lottery odds.
Let’s dive right into our 2026 NBA Draft lottery guide. Below you can find the final lottery odds, notes on draft pick protections and details on the date for the NBA Draft lottery.
2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds
Here are the NBA Draft lottery odds this year.
| Pick | Team | Top-4 Pick | No. 1 Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington Wizards | 52.1% | 14% |
| 2 | Indiana Pacers | 52.1% | 14% |
| 3 | Brooklyn Nets | 52.1% | 14% |
| 4 | Utah Jazz | 45.2% | 11.5% |
| – | Sacramento Kings | 45.2% | 11.5% |
| 6 | Memphis Grizzlies | 37.2% | 9% |
| 7 | Atlanta Hawks (via NOP) | 29.3% | 6.8% |
| — | Dallas Mavericks | 29.0% | 6.7% |
| 9 | Chicago Bulls | 20.3% | 4.5% |
| 10 | Milwaukee Bucks | 13.9% | 3.0% |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 9.4% | 2.0% |
| 12 | Oklahoma City Thunder (LAC) |
2026 NBA Draft Pick Protections
Here are the 2026 NBA Draft lottery pick protections.
-
Washington Wizards: Top-8 Protected (SAFE)
-
Indiana Pacers: Top-4 Protected
- 2026 IND 1st goes to the Los Angeles Clippers if it falls between picks 5-9
-
Utah jazz: Top-8 Protected
- 2026 UTA 1st goes to the Oklahoma City Thunder if it falls between picks 9-30
-
Milwaukee Bucks: Receive lowest first-round pick between Bucks and the New Orleans Pelicans (goes to the Atlanta Hawks)
-
Atlanta Hawks: Receive the highest of the Bucks’ and Pelicans’ first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft
2026 NBA Draft Lottery FAQ
When is the NBA Draft Lottery?
The 2026 NBA Draft lottery is Sunday, May 10 and will be televised on ESPN.
Who has the highest odds in the NBA Draft Lottery?
The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets are tied with the highest 2026 NBA Draft lottery odds with a 14 percent chance of landing the first overall pick and a 52.1 percent chance of landing a top-four pick.
Related Headlines
Q&A
What are the lottery odds for the 2026 NBA Draft?
The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets each have a 52.1% chance of a top-4 pick and a 14% chance of securing the No. 1 pick.
When is the 2026 NBA Draft lottery scheduled?
The exact date for the 2026 NBA Draft lottery has not been specified, but it typically occurs in May following the conclusion of the regular season.
Which teams are most likely to get a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft?
The teams with the highest chances for a top pick include the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets, all with a 52.1% chance of landing a top-4 selection.
