The NBA Draft Lottery determines the order to select the top draft picks for teams. Fourteen teams that missed the playoffs are entered into the lottery, and their odds are weighted based on their regular-season record.
The system was reformed in 2019 with the three worst teams all have equal odds (14%) of winning the No. 1 overall pick, which was done to mitigate “tanking” (intentionally losing games). A random drawing of numbered ping-pong balls determines the first four picks, and the remaining lottery teams are then slotted in order of their records. The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn nets share the best odds of winning the 2026 lottery after a year of hard fought tanking.
What are the Odds for the No. 1 overall pick for each team in the 2026 NBA Lottery?
Below is probability of being awarded the first overall draft pick for teams in NBA Draft Lottery 2026 with
| TEAM | RECORD | WIN% | LOTTERY ODDS |
| Washington | 17-65 | .207 | 14.0% |
| Indiana* | 19-63 | .232 | 14.0% |
| Brooklyn | 20-62 | .244 | 14.0% |
| Utah | 22-60 | .268 | 11.5% |
| Sacramento | 22-60 | .268 | 11.5% |
| Memphis | 25-57 | .305 | 9.0% |
| New Orleans (to Atlanta or Milwaukee) | 26-56 | .317 | 6.8% |
| Dallas | 26-56 | .317 | 6.7% |
| Chicago | 31-51 | .378 | 4.5% |
| Milwaukee^ | 32-50 | .390 | 3.0% |
| Golden State | 37-45 | .451 | 2.0% |
| LA Clippers (to Oklahoma City) | 42-40 | .512 | 1.5% |
| Miami | 43-39 | .524 | 1.0% |
| Charlotte | 44-38 | .537 | 0.5% |
Full 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds
- The Pacers will send their pick to the Clippers if it lands outside the top four (Ivica Zubac Trade).
- The most favorable of the Pelicans‘ or Bucks‘ picks has been traded to the Hawks (2025 draft night trade, which turned into Derik Queen).
- The least favorable of the Pelicans‘ or Bucks‘ picks stay with the Bucks (pick swap via the Jrue Holiday trade)
- The Clippers‘ selection will go to the Thunder (Paul George trade).
Notable Representation at 2026 NBA Draft Lottery
Here are some of the representatives at the 2026 NBA Lottery who have been announced:
- Indiana Pacers: Veteran point guard T.J. McConnell
- Miami Heat: Hall of Famer center Alonzo Mourning
- Golden State Warriors: Assistant GM Larry Harris
When Was The Last Time Each Team Won The NBA Lottery:
- Atlanta Hawks — 2024
- Boston Celtics — 2017
- Brooklyn Nets — Never
- Charlotte Hornets — 1991
- Chicago Bulls — 2008
- Cleveland Cavaliers — 2014
- Dallas Mavericks — 2025
- Denver Nuggets — Never
- Detroit Pistons — 2021
- Golden State Warriors — 1995
- Houston Rockets — 2023
- Indiana Pacers — Never
- Los Angeles Clippers — 2009
- Los Angeles Lakers — 1982* (via trade; pre-modern lottery luck)
- Memphis Grizzlies — Never
- Miami Heat — 2008
- Milwaukee Bucks — 1994
- Minnesota Timberwolves — 2015
- New Orleans Pelicans — 2019
- New York Knicks — 1985
- Oklahoma City Thunder — 2008 (as Seattle SuperSonics)
- Orlando Magic — 2004
- Philadelphia 76ers — 2016
- Phoenix Suns — 2018
- Portland Trail Blazers — 2007
- Sacramento Kings — Never
- San Antonio Spurs — 2023
- Toronto Raptors — 2006
- Utah Jazz — Never
- Washington Wizards — 2010
History of Indiana Pacers During Draft Lottery
The Indiana Pacers have never won the NBA Draft Lottery. Since the lottery began in 1985, the Pacers have not benefited much from major “jumps” in the order.
Their best outcome came early, in 1988, when they moved up from No. 7 to land the No. 2 overall pick and selected Rik Smits. Aside from the 1988 draft, the Pacers have largely stayed in their expected draft slots or even dropped slightly.
The Pacers’ recent lottery appearances have continued that trend of limited movement.
- 2022: Indiana entered with the 5th-best odds but slipped to No. 6, where they drafted Bennedict Mathurin.
- 2023: Indiana remained at No. 7, selecting Bilal Coulibaly (later traded).
- Most of their lottery picks in the history of the franchise—such as Paul George at No. 10 in 2010 or Myles Turner at No. 11 in 2015—have come outside the top five, reinforcing how rarely they’ve had elite draft positioning.
