
The Memphis Grizzlies have the sixth-best odds for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft lottery on May 10. This is only the second time since 2020 that they will make a pick with their own lottery selection.
Memphis Grizzlies NBA draft lottery guide, chances at No. 1 overall pick
The Memphis Grizzlies will be closely watching the results of the 2026 NBA draft lottery on May 10 (2 p.m. CT, ABC).
Memphis enters this year with the sixth-best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick ā a feat the franchise has never accomplished. The Grizzlies have, however, selected five players at No. 2 overall: Mike Bibby, Steve Francis, Stromile Swift, Hasheem Thabeet and Ja Morant.
This marks just the second time since 2020 that Memphis will make the pick with own lottery selection. The Grizzlies also technically added Ziaire Williams through the No. 10 pick in 2021 via trade, while their most recent direct lottery appearance came in 2024, when they selected Zach Edey at No. 9.
The NBA draft lottery has evolved over the years as the league continues adjusting its system to discourage tanking ā the strategy of losing intentionally to improve draft position.
Hereās what to know about how the lottery works as Memphis awaits its fate.
Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
The Grizzlies have the sixth-best odds to secure the No. 1 overall pick.
The draft lottery is scheduled for May 10 at 2 p.m. CT.
No, the Grizzlies have never selected a player with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Grizzlies have selected five players at No. 2 overall, including Mike Bibby and Ja Morant.

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Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Ty Jerome gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Ty Jerome gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Ty Jerome gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā head coach Tuomas Iisalo gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā head coach Tuomas Iisalo gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā head coach Tuomas Iisalo gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Cedric Coward gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Cedric Coward gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Cedric Coward gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Cedric Coward gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā GG Jackson II gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā GG Jackson II gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā GG Jackson II gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Walter Clayton Jr. gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Taylor Hendricks gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Taj Gibson gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Taj Gibson gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
Memphis Grizzliesā Taj Gibson gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Ty Jerome gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Ty Jerome gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Ty Jerome gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā head coach Tuomas Iisalo gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā head coach Tuomas Iisalo gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā head coach Tuomas Iisalo gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Cedric Coward gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Cedric Coward gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Cedric Coward gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Cedric Coward gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā GG Jackson II gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā GG Jackson II gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā GG Jackson II gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Walter Clayton Jr. gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Taylor Hendricks gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Taj Gibson gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Taj Gibson gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzliesā Taj Gibson gives his exit interview on April 13, 2026 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.
The Grizzlies are one of 14 teams eligible for the lottery. The first four picks are determined through the lottery drawing, while picks No. 5 through No. 14 are ordered by regular-season record from worst to best.
For Memphis, owning the sixth-best odds means it can move into the top four or land anywhere between No. 6 and No. 10.
The drawing itself takes place in a private room in Chicago with NBA officials, team representatives, select media members. Ernst & Young auditors will oversee the process.
A set of 14 pingpong balls is used to create 1,000 possible four-number combinations.
With 9% odds at the No. 1 pick, Memphis is assigned 90 of those combinations. By comparison, the three teams with the best lottery odds each receive 140 combinations, reflecting their 14% chance.
Four balls are drawn to determine each winning combination. After a team secures one of the top four picks, it is removed from subsequent drawings.
Landing a franchise-changing player from the sixth slot will require Memphis to buck recent history.
Since the NBA flattened lottery odds in 2019, no team with the sixth-best odds has jumped into the top four. Teams in that position have stayed at No. 6 once, dropped to No. 7 twice, fallen to No. 8 three times and slid to No. 9 once.
Still, recent lotteries have shown movement is possible. Last year alone, teams slotted No. 8 and No. 11 vaulted into the top four. Since the current format began, teams with the fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th-best odds have all made that leap.
For the Grizzlies, history may not be encouraging ā but the lottery has proven that surprises remain possible.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: NBA draft lottery guide, Memphis Grizzlies' odds at No. 1 pick