NBA’s board of governors passes anti-tanking changes to draft lottery process, AP source says
May 28, 2026, 12:34 PM
Washington Wizards' John Wall, left, and NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, pose for photos after Tatum announced that the Wizards had won the first pick in the NBA basketball draft lottery in Chicago, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The NBA approved sweeping changes to the draft lottery on Thursday that will strip the teams with the worst records from receiving the best odds of winning the No. 1 pick, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league had not revealed the vote result publicly.
The changes were made in large part to crack down on tanking. A vote by the league’s Board of Governors made the plan official for the next three seasons. The “3-2-1 Lottery” proposal expands the event to 16 teams, flattens odds of winning the No. 1 pick and will try to deter teams from tanking by lowering lottery chances for teams that have the worst records.
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