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NBARecap
Wizards Win NBA Draft Lottery With Tank Reform on the Horizon
TL;DR
The Washington Wizards won the NBA Draft Lottery, securing the No. 1 pick for the 2026 draft after finishing with a league-worst record of 17–65. The Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies will pick second and third, respectively.
Key points
- Wizards won the NBA Draft Lottery
- They will pick No. 1 in the 2026 draft
- Wizards had a league-worst record of 17–65
- Utah Jazz will pick No. 2
- Memphis Grizzlies will pick No. 3
Washington WizardsUtah JazzMemphis GrizzliesChicago Bulls
CHICAGO — The Wizards won the NBA tank war—and were rewarded with the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Washington will pick No. 1 in the 2026 NBA draft after finishing with a league-worst 17–65 this year. The Wizards had a 14% chance of winning the lottery, tied with the Pacers and Nets for the best odds at winning the draft.
The Jazz, who had the fifth-best odds, won the No. 2 pick. Memphis will pick No. 3 after having the sixth-best odds, while the Bulls jumped to No. 4 after having the ninth-best odds.
Indiana and Brooklyn both fell outside the top four.
The Pacers traded a top-four protected pick in this draft to the Clippers in exchange for Ivica Zubac. Because Indiana fell to No. 5, Los Angeles will be the pick. The Nets will select No. 6
The 2026 NBA rookie class has been touted as one of the best classes in recent years, particularly because of an impressive top three: BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and Duke big man . In recent weeks, UNC forward Caleb Wilson has started to work his way into the mix, turning a prized trio into a coveted foursome.
Q&A
How did the Washington Wizards win the NBA Draft Lottery?
The Wizards won the NBA Draft Lottery by finishing with the worst record in the league, giving them a 14% chance of winning the lottery.
What teams will pick after the Wizards in the 2026 NBA Draft?
The Utah Jazz will pick second, followed by the Memphis Grizzlies at third, and the Chicago Bulls at fourth.
What are the implications of the NBA tank reform for the Wizards?
The NBA tank reform aims to discourage teams from intentionally losing games, but the Wizards' success in the lottery may influence future strategies regarding team performance.