The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery format explained: which teams have the best chances of landing the No. 1 pick

The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for Monday, May 12, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. The event will commence at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

The draw will determine the order in which the 14 non-playoff franchises will select their picks for the main draft, scheduled for June 25 and 26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

How the NBA Draft Lottery works

Here’s how the system works: 14 ping-pong balls are placed in a drum and numbered from 1 to 14, resulting in 1,001 potential combinations. Based on their position in the league, each team is assigned a specific set of numbers from those 1,001 combinations.

For example, the worst team in the league across the season has 140 possible combinations out of 1,001 after securing such an unenviable title. This equates to a 14% probability of obtaining the number 1 pick.

In this draw, 14 balls are introduced, and four are randomly selected to determine the winner of the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 picks. The remaining 10 picks are determined based on the teams’ records of victories in the regular league, their positions after tiebreakers if necessary, and any changes made through transfers.

Chances of getting number one

1. Utah (17-65) - 14%
2. Washington (18-64) - 14%
3. Charlotte (19-63) - 14%
4. New Orleans (21-61) - 14%
5. Philadelphia (24-58) - 10.5%
6. Brooklyn (26-56) - 9%
7. Toronto (39-52) - 7.5%
8. San Antonio (34-48) - 6%
9. Phoenix (to Houston via Brooklyn) (36-46) - 3.8%
10. Portland (36-46) - 3.7%
11. Dallas (39-43) - 1.8%
12. Chicago (39-43) - 0.8%
13. Sacramento (40-42) - 0.8%
14. Atlanta (to San Antonio) (40-42) - 0.7%

As for picks 15-60, those selections and the entire second round (No. 30-60), are determined by reverse order of regular season record, with each NBA allowed one selection in the first round and one selection in the second round.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.