{"id":1927514,"date":"2026-05-10T09:00:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T06:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1927514"},"modified":"2026-05-10T09:00:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T06:00:52","slug":"how-to-watch-2026-nba-draft-lottery-start-time-tv-info-no-1-pick-odds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1927514","title":{"rendered":"How to watch 2026 NBA Draft Lottery: Start time, TV info, No. 1 pick odds"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"Article_ContentContainer__jBNW3 article-content-container bodytext1\">\n<p>The fates are about to reveal themselves \u2026 in the form of 14 white plastic spheres. It\u2019s time for the NBA Draft Lottery, an event both deeply consequential and altogether strange.<\/p>\n<p>Sunday\u2019s lottery sets the order for one of the decade\u2019s most anticipated rookie drafts. This 2026 class is loaded with potential, and everything around it comes into focus once the lotto is drawn. The telecast is on ABC, 30 minutes before Game 4 of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7250874\/2026\/05\/04\/knicks-76ers-brunson-embiid-playoffs-how-to-watch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> second-round series.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what to know and how to tune in.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container\">\n<div class=\"ad-wrapper article-treatment\">\n<div class=\"ad-slug-container\">\n<p class=\"ad-slug\">Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"mid1\" data-position=\"mid1\" class=\"ad place-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<h2>How to watch the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Venue:<\/strong> McCormick Place \u2014 Chicago<\/li>\n<li><strong>Time:<\/strong> 3 p.m. ET, Sunday<\/li>\n<li><strong>TV: <\/strong>ABC<\/li>\n<li><strong>Streaming: <\/strong>Fubo (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fubo.tv\/stream\/nba\/?irmp=5579095&amp;irad=356361\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Stream Free Now<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>ABC is free over the air. It\u2019s also available with an ESPN Unlimited subscription.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>What to know about the NBA Draft Lottery<\/h2>\n<p>There are four drawings to determine the top four picks. The 14 teams that missed this year\u2019s postseason are all entered into the lottery \u2014 though some of those franchises have already traded the rights to their spots.<\/p>\n<p>The process itself involves 14 ping-pong balls, each with a number from 1-14. Those balls are thrown into a machine and mixed around, then revealed one by one to create a unique permutation. The lottery teams are given a set of different numeric combinations before the event starts. More regular-season losses mean more combinations overall.<\/p>\n<div data-ath-video-stream=\"OcRFrYjNPzpOsKk\"><\/div>\n<p>That procedure gets repeated for picks Nos. 2-4. The draw resets if the same team comes up again. The order is finalized after the fourth drawing, with remaining lottery picks lined up by worst record. The rest of the first round (Nos. 15-30) and the whole second round goes in that same order \u2014 the worse the record, the higher the pick.<\/p>\n<p>Drawings get conducted just before the broadcast begins. Results are then announced in reverse order, starting with No. 14, by the NBA\u2019s deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, Mark Tatum. Representatives from each franchise sit on the stage as Tatum opens the envelopes and reads the results. Team reps include former NBA star John Wall, who was the Washington Wizards\u2019 No. 1 pick in 2010, and current Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell.<\/p>\n<p>Among the standouts in the forthcoming draft are forward AJ Dybantsa from BYU, guard Darryn Peterson out of Kansas, Duke\u2019s Cameron Boozer and UNC\u2019s Caleb Wilson. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7159791\/2026\/04\/29\/nba-mock-draft-big-four-caleb-wilson\/\"><em>The Athletic<\/em>\u2019s latest mock draft<\/a>, the top eight picks are all one-and-done freshmen. The 2026 draft is scheduled for June 23-24 in Brooklyn, N.Y., airing on ABC and ESPN.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-container\">\n<div class=\"ad-wrapper article-treatment\">\n<div class=\"ad-slug-container\">\n<p class=\"ad-slug\">Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"mid2\" data-position=\"mid2\" class=\"ad place-ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Which teams have the best odds this year?<\/h2>\n<p>The Wizards, Pacers and Brooklyn Nets are most likely to get the top pick.<\/p>\n<p>Washington went a dismal 17-65, but it did acquire former All-Stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young. The Wizards will look to flip the switch in 2026-27 with a new blue-chip prospect in hand.<\/p>\n<p>Indiana finished at 19-63, one season after it reached Game 7 of the NBA Finals. This was a gap year for the Pacers after Tyrese Haliburton <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6963530\/2026\/01\/14\/tyrese-haliburton-injury-rehab-journey-new-passions\/\">tore his Achilles in the finals finale<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Brooklyn ended up at 20-62, a continued fallout from its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/02\/10\/sports\/basketball\/nets-trade-kyrie-irving-kevin-durant-joe-tsai.html\">failed superteam<\/a> effort earlier in the decade. The Nets landed five first-round rookies in the 2025 draft; the highest selection was Egor D\u00ebmin at No. 8.<\/p>\n<p>The other two teams with double-digit odds are the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings. Both went 22-60 this season.<\/p>\n<p>Recent lottery winners have come from unlikely entrants. Last year\u2019s Dallas Mavericks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/live-blogs\/nba-draft-lottery-live-updates-projections-prospects-latest\/rJOn3Yncqi1Q\/\">had just a 1.8 percent chance at the first pick<\/a>, yet they still wound up atop the heap and drafted the prodigious Cooper Flagg. The same went for the Atlanta Hawks in 2024, who rose from 3 percent odds to select Zaccharie Risacher.<\/p>\n<p>The Hawks could end up with the No. 1 pick again this year, should either the New Orleans Pelicans or Milwaukee Bucks win the draft lottery. The Pelicans acquired the Bucks\u2019 2026 first-rounder from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/2202383\/2020\/11\/17\/jrue-holiday-bogdan-bogdanovic-traded-to-bucks-trade-grades\/\">Jrue Holiday deal<\/a> in 2020. They then sent the Hawks their right to the higher pick to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6452680\/2025\/06\/26\/new-orleans-pelicans-trade-draft-derik-queen\/\">trade up for Derik Queen<\/a> in the 2025 draft. Atlanta will now get the better pick this year between those two teams.<\/p>\n<p>The full 2026 odds are listed below:<\/p>\n<div id=\"ath_table_173238\" class=\"tab-content relative\">\n<div id=\"table-preview-173238\" class=\"table-responsive border-transparent-imp\">\n<table class=\"in-article table border-transparent-imp in-article-striped in-article-no-column-border-right in-article-no-column-border-left\" style=\"max-width: none;margin: 0\">\n<thead class=\"allcaps\">\n<tr>\n<th class=\"user-select-none relative nowrap-imp\"><span class=\"left\">Team<\/span><\/th>\n<th class=\"user-select-none relative nowrap-imp\"><span class=\"left\">Odds (%)<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Washington Wizards<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span class>14.0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Indiana Pacers<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span class>14.0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Brooklyn Nets<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span class>14.0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Utah Jazz<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span>11.5<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Sacramento Kings<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span>11.5<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Memphis Grizzlies<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span class>9.0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span class>New Orleans Pelicans*<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span>6.8<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Dallas Mavericks<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span>6.7<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Chicago Bulls<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span>4.5<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span class>Milwaukee Bucks*<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span>3.0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Golden State Warriors<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span>2.0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span class>LA Clippers**<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span>1.5<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Miami Heat<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span>1.0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div><span>Charlotte Hornets<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<div><span>0.5<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>if([&#8220;rgb(17, 17, 17)&#8221;, &#8220;rgb(0, 0, 0)&#8221;, &#8220;rgb(18, 18, 18)&#8221;, &#8220;rgb(26, 26, 26)&#8221;].indexOf(getComputedStyle(document.body).backgroundColor) != -1) {var x = document.querySelectorAll(&#8220;#ath_table_173238 .ia-hlt&#8221;);for (var i = 0; i &lt; x.length; i++) {x[i].classList.add(&quot;dark-mode&quot;);}}var all_table_images = document.querySelectorAll(&quot;#ath_table_173238 img&quot;); for (var i = 0; i &lt; all_table_images.length; i++) {all_table_images[i].removeAttribute(&quot;onclick&quot;)};var link = document.createElement(&quot;link&quot;);link.rel = &quot;stylesheet&quot;;link.type = &quot;text\/css&quot;;link.href = &quot;https:\/\/use.typekit.net\/cuz4pky.css&quot;;document.getElementsByTagName(&quot;HEAD&quot;)[0].appendChild(link);var link = document.createElement(&quot;link&quot;);link.rel = &quot;stylesheet&quot;;link.type = &quot;text\/css&quot;;link.href = &quot;https:\/\/use.typekit.net\/dtk6elt.css&quot;;document.getElementsByTagName(&quot;HEAD&quot;)[0].appendChild(link);var link = document.createElement(&quot;link&quot;);link.rel = &quot;stylesheet&quot;;link.type = &quot;text\/css&quot;;link.href = &quot;https:\/\/theathletic.com\/app\/themes\/athletic\/assets\/css\/tables.css&quot;;document.getElementsByTagName(&quot;HEAD&quot;)[0].appendChild(link);<\/p>\n<p>* Atlanta receives the higher pick between New Orleans and Milwaukee.<\/p>\n<p>** The Oklahoma City Thunder have the Clippers\u2019 pick due to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7201184\/2026\/04\/16\/clippers-thunder-lottery-nba-draft\/\">Paul George blockbuster<\/a> in 2019.<\/p>\n<h2>In-depth NBA Draft coverage from <em>The Athletic<\/em><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7251857\/2026\/05\/05\/nba-draft-lottery-reform-tanking-odds-overdue\/\">John Hollinger on potential future changes to the lottery process.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7237953\/2026\/04\/28\/nba-draft-lottery-tanking-changes\/\">Sam Amick on the \u201c3-2-1\u201d lottery proposal, which could start in 2027.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7186200\/2026\/04\/28\/nba-draft-lottery-fixes-tanking-adam-silver\/\">David Aldridge on the hazards of tanking around the league.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7159791\/2026\/04\/29\/nba-mock-draft-big-four-caleb-wilson\/\">Sam Vecenie\u2019s latest 2026 mock draft has Dybantsa going No. 1.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"inline-graphic\">\n<p>        a.showcase-link-container {<br \/>\n  display: flex;<br \/>\n  gap: 20px;<br \/>\n  flex-direction: column;<br \/>\n  align-items: center;<br \/>\n  padding: 20px 0px;<br \/>\n  border-top: 1px solid rgba(150, 150, 147, 0.4);<br \/>\n  border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(150, 150, 147, 0.4);<br \/>\n  text-decoration: none;<br \/>\n  color: #121212;<br \/>\n  cursor: pointer;<\/p>\n<p>  .showcase-link {<br \/>\n    font-family: nyt-franklin;<br \/>\n    font-size: 14px;<br \/>\n    font-style: normal;<br \/>\n    font-weight: 700;<br \/>\n    line-height: 13.8px;<br \/>\n    letter-spacing: 1.1px;<br \/>\n    text-transform: uppercase;<br \/>\n  }<\/p>\n<p>  .showcase-link-image {<br \/>\n    border-radius: 8px;<br \/>\n    object-fit: cover;<br \/>\n    width: 200px;<br \/>\n    height: 150px;<br \/>\n    margin: 0px;<br \/>\n    @media (max-width: 600px) {<br \/>\n      width: 120px;<br \/>\n      height: 120px;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n  }<\/p>\n<p>  .showcase-link-inner-content {<br \/>\n    display: flex;<br \/>\n    flex-direction: row;<br \/>\n    gap: 16px;<br \/>\n    width: 100%;<br \/>\n  }<\/p>\n<p>  .showcase-link-text-content {<br \/>\n    display: flex;<br \/>\n    flex-direction: column;<br \/>\n    gap: 20px;<br \/>\n    justify-content: center;<br \/>\n    @media (max-width: 600px) {<br \/>\n      gap: 8px;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n  }<\/p>\n<p>  .showcase-link-title {<br \/>\n    font-family: nyt-cheltenham;<br \/>\n    font-size: 24px;<br \/>\n    font-style: normal;<br \/>\n    font-weight: 500;<br \/>\n    line-height: 120%; \/* 24px *\/<br \/>\n    letter-spacing: 0.01px;<br \/>\n    text-overflow: ellipsis;<br \/>\n    overflow: hidden;<br \/>\n    display: -webkit-box;<br \/>\n    -webkit-box-orient: vertical;<br \/>\n    -webkit-line-clamp: 3;<br \/>\n    @media (max-width: 600px) {<br \/>\n      font-size: 16px;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n  }<\/p>\n<p>  .showcase-link-excerpt {<br \/>\n    font-family: nyt-imperial;<br \/>\n    font-size: 16px;<br \/>\n    font-style: normal;<br \/>\n    font-weight: 400;<br \/>\n    line-height: 139%; \/* 19.46px *\/<br \/>\n    color: #323232;<br \/>\n    text-overflow: ellipsis;<br \/>\n    overflow: hidden;<br \/>\n    display: -webkit-box;<br \/>\n    -webkit-box-orient: vertical;<br \/>\n    -webkit-line-clamp: 4;<br \/>\n    @media (max-width: 600px) {<br \/>\n      font-size: 12px;<br \/>\n      line-height: 121%;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n  }<br \/>\n}<\/p>\n<p>.showcase-link-inputs {<br \/>\n  .showcase-link-input {<br \/>\n    width: 100%;<br \/>\n    font-size: 1rem;<br \/>\n    background-color: white;<br \/>\n    margin-bottom: 12px;<br \/>\n  }<\/p>\n<p>  .showcase-link-indent {<br \/>\n    margin-left: 25px;<br \/>\n  }<\/p>\n<p>  option {<br \/>\n    width: 100%;<br \/>\n  }<br \/>\n}<\/p>\n<p>@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {<br \/>\n  .native-mobile a.showcase-link-container {<br \/>\n    background-color: #121212;<br \/>\n    color: #f0f0ee;<br \/>\n    .showcase-link-excerpt {<br \/>\n      color: #c4c4c0;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n  }<br \/>\n}<\/p>\n<p>            \/\/ Remove all onclicks on imgs for apps to prevent image zoom on click<br \/>\n            document.querySelectorAll(&#8216;.showcase-link-image&#8217;).forEach((img) =&gt; img.removeAttribute(&#8216;onclick&#8217;));<\/p>\n<p>        <a id=\"showcase-link-7251857\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7251857\/2026\/05\/05\/nba-draft-lottery-reform-tanking-odds-overdue\/\" class=\"showcase-link-container in-content-module-link testbed-shortcode\" data-shortcode-id=\"101\" data-shortcode-string=\"showcase-link\" data-content-id=\"7251857\" data-content-post-type=\"article\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"showcase-link\">Hollinger on lotto reform<\/div>\n<div class=\"showcase-link-inner-content\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2026\/05\/04145104\/AP25133022525164-1024x682.jpg?width=400&amp;quality=70\" alt=\"NBA Draft Lottery reform is wonderful and long overdue for the league\" class=\"showcase-link-image\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"showcase-link-text-content\">\n<div class=\"showcase-link-title\">\n                  NBA Draft Lottery reform is wonderful and long overdue for the league\n              <\/div>\n<div class=\"showcase-link-excerpt\">\n                  The path being proposed will vaporize any tanking incentives and revitalize an atrocious on-court product down the stretch of the season.\n              <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Recent No. 1 NBA Draft picks<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2025<\/strong> \u2014 Cooper Flagg<span data-sheets-root=\"1\">, Dallas Mavericks<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>2024<\/strong> \u2014 Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks<\/li>\n<li><strong>2023<\/strong> \u2014 Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs<\/li>\n<li><strong>2022<\/strong> \u2014 Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic<\/li>\n<li><strong>2021<\/strong> \u2014 Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons<\/li>\n<li><strong>2020<\/strong> \u2014 Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p><i><span>Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of <\/span><\/i><span>The Athletic<\/span><i><span>. Restrictions may apply. <\/span><\/i><span>The Athletic<\/span><i><span> maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process, and do not review stories before publication.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The fates are about to reveal themselves \u2026 in the form of 14 white plastic spheres. It\u2019s time for the NBA Draft Lottery, an event both deeply consequential and altogether strange. Sunday\u2019s lottery sets the order for one of the decade\u2019s most anticipated rookie drafts. This 2026 class is loaded with potential, and everything around [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,241],"class_list":["post-1927514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nytimes-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1927514"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927514\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1927514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1927514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1927514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}