When is the NBA draft lottery? Date, time and what to know about 2025 odds, format

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The NBA draft lottery has been the system used by the NBA to determine its draft order over four decades now. But the timing of its annual unveiling, in the middle of the conference semifinals of the playoffs, also makes it an annual pick-me-up for the fans of teams who didn’t make the postseason.

There are 13 NBA teams that can reasonably wonder if the No. 1 pick and the chance, presumably, to choose Cooper Flagg is in the cards when the 2025 NBA draft lottery takes place this week. Within the more than 1,000 combination of ping pong balls used to select the top-four picks in the NBA draft lies a dose of hope for even the most hopeless of situations. It is a great equalizer in that way, and a fulcrum the league utilizes to keep fans engaged.

This will be the 40th year in which the NBA turns to a lottery to determine its No. 1 pick and draft order. The system began with the 1985 NBA draft, when Patrick Ewing was the prized prospect, and has received several tweaks since then. The NBA most recently altered how the odds are weighted at the top of the lottery ahead of the 2019 draft to better discourage teams from tanking. The Atlanta Hawks won last year’s draft lottery despite having just a 3% chance to do so and chose French forward Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick.

Here’s more on the 2025 NBA draft lottery, including when it’s happening, how to watch and the odds for every lottery team this year:

When is the 2025 NBA draft lottery?

The 2025 NBA draft lottery will be held on Monday, May 12 in Chicago and will be broadcast beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

NBA draft lottery 2025: Format and selection process

The NBA draft lottery determines the order of selection for the 2025 NBA draft in June. Drawings are conducted to determine the first four picks in the NBA Draft using 14 ping pong balls numbered 1 through 14 in a lottery machine. The remainder of the lottery teams select in positions five through 14 based on 2024-25 regular-season records, in descending order.

There are 1,001 possible combinations when four balls are drawn out of 14, according to the NBA, and 1,000 of those combinations are assigned to the 14 NBA lottery teams. Beginning with the 2019 draft lottery, the NBA system was adjusted to ensure the team with the worst record receives no worse than the No. 5 pick. The league also leveled the odds for the teams with the three worst regular-season records. They each have a 14% chance of winning the lottery.

Watch the 2025 NBA draft lottery with Fubo

NBA draft lottery odds: Who has best chance at 2025 No. 1 pick?

No. 1 pick odds according to the NBA after applying draft lottery rules and tiebreaking procedures. Top-four pick odds, according to Tankathon.

1. Utah Jazz (17-65)

No. 1 pick odds: 14%
Top-four pick odds: 52.1%

2. Washington Wizards (18-64)

No. 1 pick odds: 14%
Top-four pick odds: 52.1%

3. Charlotte Hornets (19-63)

No. 1 pick odds: 14%
Top-four pick odds: 52.1%

4. New Orleans Pelicans (21-61)

No. 1 pick odds: 12.5%
Top-four pick odds: 48.1%

5. Philadelphia 76ers (24-58)

Note: Philadelphia would convey its 2025 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder if the selection falls outside the top six in the draft order.

No. 1 pick odds: 10.5%
Top-four pick odds: 42.1%