NBA Passes 16-Team Draft Lottery in 29-1 Vote to Cut No. 1 Odds to 5.4%
Updated
Updated · ESPN · May 28
NBA Passes 16-Team Draft Lottery in 29-1 Vote to Cut No. 1 Odds to 5.4%
12 articles · Updated · ESPN · May 28
A 29-1 Board of Governors vote approved the NBA's new 3-2-1 lottery, expanding the draft lottery from 14 to 16 teams for the 2027-2029 drafts.
The overhaul is meant to curb tanking by flattening odds and cutting the bottom three teams' chance at the No. 1 pick from 14% to 5.4%, while penalizing them with weaker draft-position floors.
The system also bars teams from winning back-to-back lotteries or picking in the top five for three straight drafts, a rule that could immediately alter the value of traded future picks.
Play-in teams gain more incentive to keep competing because the 16-team field includes the 7-8 game loser and the 9- and 10-seeds, and the league is expected to turn the lottery drawing into a live TV event.
The changes answer Adam Silver's push to fix losing incentives, but the format carries a sunset review before the 2030 draft, leaving open the prospect of another redesign.
Has the NBA just invented a smarter, more complicated way for teams to tank?
Will the NBA's anti-tanking rules accidentally create a permanent underclass of losing teams?
The 3-2-1 NBA Draft Lottery: Inside the 2027 Reform to Combat Tanking and Its Impact on Teams
Overview
The NBA has approved a major change to its draft lottery, introducing the 3-2-1 system starting in 2027 to address the growing problem of tanking. Driven by Commissioner Adam Silver’s focus on protecting the league’s integrity, this new system expands the lottery to 16 teams and flattens the odds, making it less rewarding for teams to lose on purpose. By penalizing the bottom three teams and encouraging more competition throughout the season, the NBA aims to stop the annual race to the bottom and ensure every game matters, marking a bold step toward greater fairness and excitement.