NBA Expands Draft Lottery to 16 Teams Starting in 2027

The NBA's board of governors voted on May 28, 2026, to expand the draft lottery from 14 to 16 teams beginning with the 2027 draft. The new format, called the 3-2-1 lottery, gives the three teams with the worst records two ping-pong balls each and caps their draft position at 12th. Teams ranked fourth through tenth each receive three balls.

The 9 and 10 seeds in each conference's play-in tournament will receive two lottery balls, while the losers of the 7-8 play-in games will receive one ball each. All 16 teams will participate in the drawing, which sources said is likely to be conducted live next year. The vote passed 29-1, with the Memphis Grizzlies casting the lone dissenting vote.

The league said the changes followed meetings with stakeholders that began in October to address competitive incentives and discourage tanking. Under the new rules, teams cannot win the No. 1 pick in consecutive years.

The Washington Wizards, who won the lottery this year, are therefore ineligible for the top selection in 2027. Teams also cannot secure a top-five pick in three straight seasons, a restriction that applies only to the Utah Jazz in 2027. The Jazz's pick, already traded to the Grizzlies, cannot finish higher than sixth.

Teams will no longer be allowed to protect picks in the 12-to-15 range, though previously agreed protections remain in effect. The league also gained expanded disciplinary authority, including the ability to reduce lottery odds, alter draft positions, and impose significant fines.

The proposal includes a sunset clause that ends the format after the 2029 season, aligning with an opt-out window in the collective bargaining agreement.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in March that the decision carried business, basketball, and integrity implications for the league and required action at the ownership level.