The NBA Draft Lottery 2025 is one of the most anticipated events of the basketball offseason. It determines which non-playoff teams will get the top picks in the upcoming NBA Draft — and possibly the rights to future stars like Cooper Flagg or Dylan Harper.
Here’s a simple guide to what it is, how it works, and which teams are involved.
What Is the NBA Draft Lottery?
The NBA Draft Lottery is a system the league uses to decide the order of the first 14 picks in the NBA Draft. Only the teams that did not make the playoffs are included.
The main purpose is to help weaker teams get better by giving them a chance to draft top talent, while also discouraging teams from intentionally losing games to improve their draft position.
A Brief History
- The lottery began in 1985 as a way to stop teams from tanking.
- Early versions used envelopes and random drawings.
- In 1990, the system was changed to give worse teams better odds through a weighted lottery.
- A major reform in 2019 gave the three worst teams an equal chance (14%) at the No. 1 pick to reduce the incentive for tanking.
How Does the Lottery Work?
The process may sound complex, but here’s a simple breakdown:
- 14 teams that missed the playoffs are entered into the lottery.
- Each team is assigned a number of combinations based on their regular-season record — worse records get more combinations.
- Four ping-pong balls are drawn from a set of 14, creating a unique combination that determines who gets the No. 1 pick.
- This is repeated to determine the first four picks.
- Picks 5 through 14 are then assigned in order of worst to best record.
This system ensures that every non-playoff team has at least a small chance at the top pick, but teams with worse records still have the advantage.
Which Teams Are in the 2025 Draft Lottery?
Here are the 14 teams participating in the 2025 Draft Lottery, along with their odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick:
| Team | Chance at No. 1 Pick |
|---|---|
| Utah Jazz | 14.0% |
| Washington Wizards | 14.0% |
| Charlotte Hornets | 14.0% |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 12.5% |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 10.5% |
| Brooklyn Nets | 9.0% |
| Toronto Raptors | 7.5% |
| San Antonio Spurs (via ATL) | 6.0% |
| Chicago Bulls | 4.5% |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 3.0% |
| Dallas Mavericks | 2.0% |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 1.5% |
| Sacramento Kings | 1.0% |
| Golden State Warriors | 0.5% |
These teams are hoping that luck is on their side and that they’ll get the chance to draft a franchise-changing player.
Top Prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft
The upcoming draft class includes several standout players who could become future stars in the league:
- Cooper Flagg (Duke) – A highly skilled forward with excellent two-way potential.
- Dylan Harper (Rutgers) – A smart and strong guard known for his court vision and scoring.
- Ace Bailey (Rutgers) – An athletic wing with elite potential on both ends of the floor.
- Khaman Maluach (Duke) – A 7-footer with impressive size and mobility, showing promise as a rim protector and finisher.
- Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois) – A crafty international guard with a high basketball IQ.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery is more than just a draw — it’s a key step in rebuilding for teams that struggled during the season. The outcome will shape the direction of several franchises and could introduce the league’s next superstar.
The lottery takes place on May 12, 2025, and all eyes will be on the results to see who gets the coveted top pick.
Your daily dose of sports action starts at DanredSports.com—where passion meets reporting!