The 2026 NBA Draft picture just got a whole lot clearer – and for some teams, significantly brighter! With the regular season now firmly in the rearview mirror, the NBA has officially settled the crucial tiebreakers that will dictate the early picks, igniting fresh hopes and anxieties across the league. These decisive random drawings have laid the groundwork for the highly anticipated NBA Draft Lottery, determining the ultimate order for teams with identical records.
Key Takeaways from the Tiebreakers:
- The Utah Jazz secured a vital advantage over the Sacramento Kings for a better draft position.
- In a significant three-way battle, the Phoenix Suns emerged victorious against the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers.
- The New Orleans Pelicans, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, and New York Knicks all gained favorable seeding.
- The NBA Draft Lottery 2026 is slated for Sunday, May 10, live on ABC.
Crucial Edges: Who Won the Tiebreaker Lottery?
Six critical ties among teams with identical regular-season records were broken in New York, shaping the initial selection order for the NBA Draft 2026. Conducted by NBA President of League Operations Byron Spruell and overseen by Megan DeCesaris of Ernst & Young, these drawings are a foundational step toward the draft proper. Every position shift, no matter how small, can drastically alter a franchise's future by impacting their odds for a generational talent.
The outcomes varied, with several teams gaining crucial ground. The Utah Jazz (22-60) successfully won their tiebreaker against the Sacramento Kings, giving them a slight statistical edge. Similarly, the New Orleans Pelicans (26-56) moved ahead of the Dallas Mavericks, a small but potentially impactful boost in the lottery race.
Breaking Down the Draws: Impact on Team Futures
Perhaps the most contested scenario involved a three-way deadlock between the Phoenix Suns (45-37), Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers. The Suns secured the top spot in this draw, followed by Philadelphia, and then Orlando. This outcome could be pivotal for Phoenix, allowing them to pick ahead of two direct rivals with similar records.
Further up the standings, the Toronto Raptors (46-36) earned a better position than the Atlanta Hawks. In the upper echelon, the Houston Rockets (52-30) bested the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the New York Knicks (53-29) secured their spot ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers. While these teams are unlikely to be in the lottery, every pick in the first round can still net a valuable contributor.
Counting Down to the Lottery: Key Dates Announced
With the tiebreakers settled, all eyes now turn to the NBA Draft Lottery 2026. This pivotal event, which determines the top four picks, will air live on ABC at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 10. Fans and franchises alike will be on the edge of their seats as ping-pong balls decide the destinies of future stars.
Following the lottery, the NBA Draft 2026 itself will unfold over two exciting days. The first round is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, where the league's top prospects will hear their names called. The second round, a hunting ground for hidden gems, will take place on Wednesday, June 24.
First Round: The Full Prospect Board
Below is the initial order of selection for NBA Draft 2026 and the probability of being awarded the first overall draft pick for teams participating in the NBA Draft Lottery 2026. This list assumes optimal pick swap exercises.
| TEAM | RECORD | WIN% | LOTTERY ODDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 17-65 | .207 | 14.0% |
| Indiana* | 19-63 | .232 | 14.0% |
| Brooklyn | 20-62 | .244 | 14.0% |
| Utah | 22-60 | .268 | 11.5% |
| Sacramento | 22-60 | .268 | 11.5% |
| Memphis | 25-57 | .305 | 9.0% |
| New Orleans (to Atlanta or Milwaukee) | 26-56 | .317 | 6.8% |
| Dallas | 26-56 | .317 | 6.7% |
| Chicago | 31-51 | .378 | 4.5% |
| Milwaukee^ | 32-50 | .390 | 3.0% |
| Golden State | 37-45 | .451 | 2.0% |
| LA Clippers (to Oklahoma City) | 42-40 | .512 | 1.5% |
| Miami | 43-39 | .524 | 1.0% |
| Charlotte | 44-38 | .537 | 0.5% |
The order for the remainder of the first round picks is as follows, reflecting the results of the tiebreakers and assuming favorable swap exercises:
| TEAM | RECORD | WIN% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | Portland (to Chicago) | 42-40 | .512 |
| 16. | Phoenix (to Memphis via Orlando) | 45-37 | .549 |
| 17. | Philadelphia (to Oklahoma City) | 45-37 | .549 |
| 18. | Orlando (to Charlotte via Phoenix) | 45-37 | .549 |
| 19. | Toronto | 46-36 | .561 |
| 20. | Atlanta (to San Antonio) | 46-36 | .561 |
| 21. | Minnesota (to Detroit) | 49-33 | .598 |
| 22. | Houston (to Philadelphia via Oklahoma City) | 52-30 | .634 |
| 23. | Cleveland (to Atlanta) | 52-30 | .634 |
| 24. | New York | 53-29 | .646 |
| 25. | Los Angeles Lakers | 53-29 | .646 |
| 26. | Denver | 54-28 | .659 |
| 27. | Boston | 56-26 | .683 |
| 28. | Detroit (to Minnesota) | 60-22 | .732 |
| 29. | San Antonio (to Cleveland via Atlanta) | 62-20 | .756 |
| 30. | Oklahoma City (to Dallas via Washington and Philadelphia) | 64-18 | .780 |
Note: The draft order above assumes that a team with the right to swap one pick for another exercises such right only if it is favorable to do so.
* = This pick may be conveyed to the LA Clippers
^ = This pick may be conveyed to Atlanta (via New Orleans)
Second Round: Hidden Gems Await
The second round also saw its order clarified, though some positions remain contingent on the lottery results for tied teams. This is where teams often find impactful role players and future stars, making every selection crucial.
| TEAM | |
|---|---|
| 31. | Washington (to New York via Oklahoma City and Houston) |
| 32. | Indiana (to Memphis via Milwaukee) |
| 33. | Brooklyn |
| 34/35. | Sacramento |
| 34/35. | Utah (to San Antonio via Minnesota) |
| 36. | Memphis (to the LA Clippers via Atlanta and Utah) |
| 37/38. | Dallas (to Oklahoma City) |
| 37/38. | New Orleans (to Chicago via Boston, Detroit, and Portland) |
| 39. | Chicago (to Houston via Washington) |
| 40. | Milwaukee (to Boston via Orlando) |
| 41. | Golden State (to Miami via Charlotte, New York, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta) |
| 42. | Portland (to San Antonio via New Orleans) |
| 43. | LA Clippers (to Brooklyn via Houston) |
| 44. | Miami (to San Antonio via Indiana) |
| 45. | Charlotte (to Sacramento via San Antonio, Atlanta, and New York) |
| 46. | Orlando |
| 47. | Philadelphia (to Phoenix via Houston and Oklahoma City) |
| 48. | Phoenix (to Dallas via Washington) |
| 49. | Atlanta (to Denver via Brooklyn and Golden State) |
| 50. | Toronto |
| 51. | Minnesota (to Washington via Detroit and New York) |
| 52. | Cleveland (to the LA Clippers) |
| 53. | Houston |
| 54. | Los Angeles Lakers (to Golden State via Toronto, Miami, and Cleveland) |
| 55. | New York |
| 56. | Denver (to Chicago via Minnesota, Phoenix, Charlotte, and Phoenix) |
| 57. | Boston (to Atlanta) |
| 58. | Detroit (to New Orleans via New York, Brooklyn, Phoenix, Orlando, and the LA Clippers) |
| 59. | San Antonio (to Minnesota via Indiana) |
| 60. | Oklahoma City (to Washington via San Antonio and Miami) |
Note: Teams that finished the regular season with identical records will select in the second round in inverse order of the order in which they select in the first round. With respect to ties between Lottery teams, since the order of selection in the first round for these sets of teams may change based on the results of the Lottery, the order of selection in the second round cannot be determined until after the Lottery is conducted (on May 10, 2026). Also note, the draft order above assumes that a team with the right to swap one pick for another exercises such right only if it is favorable to do so.
