NBA Draft Lottery Expected to Receive Major Change: Report
Several weeks ago, NBA teams learned which picks they would receive at the top of the first-round draft order in June, with the Washington Wizards receiving the first overall pick.
The Utah Jazz received the second pick, followed by the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls. These high picks could change their franchises, especially with the 2026 NBA Draft expected to be one of the deepest with talent in many years.
Ahead of the draft, there is typically a buildup of excitement about which teams will receive the No. 1 pick and which teams might suffer a harsh fate of losing out on one of the top picks.
And there’s also been criticism and claims from fans that the process seems rigged, as they can’t see the actual ping-pong ball system used to determine picks. Instead, fans watch as NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum opens envelopes and reveals the teams inside with team representatives seated nearby.
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However, that will reportedly change for future editions of the draft. According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the NBA is reportedly going to begin fully televising the draft, similar to what the NHL does with its draft lottery.
Bontemps mentioned that it was unclear how they might change the process. The way the NBA has done it for years is that the first team ping-pong ball selected is the No. 1 pick. He contends it would make for much better television to draw the ping-pong balls backward from No. 16 to No. 1 for all that potential TV drama.
The NHL has televised its draft lottery for two years. As seen in an Underdog NBA video on X, the ping-pong ball machine is shown on TV as the Toronto Maple Leafs learn they will have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
“This is long overdue. The Draft Lottery is one of the NBA’s biggest ‘moment of fate’ events, there’s no reason it shouldn’t feel like it,” a fan commented on the X video.
“Crazy how it’s the year after it was so obvious they rigged it. so predictable,” another commenter wrote.
Others commented about the expected change, “Maybe they’ll stop rigging it then,” and “As if Adam Silver won’t find a way to rig it.”
Some editions of the NBA Draft lottery have felt that way to many fans. Last year, the Dallas Mavericks had the good fortune of receiving the top pick in the draft after making that blockbuster trade to send Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavs benefited by taking Cooper Flagg, a franchise-altering star, first overall.
Many believe the struggling Wizards will now be able to do the same after receiving the 2026 No. 1 overall pick. Many believe BYU’s AJ Dybantsa will be their selection and can turn this team around with his superstar abilities.
Next year’s NBA Draft might not be quite as deep with talent, but time will tell. At the very least, fans will be able to see the ping-pong ball machine in action live on television, rather than watching the opening of envelopes and the surprised or displeased reactions from team representatives.
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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 8:40 AM.