NBA proposes new '3-2-1' draft lottery system
The NBA has proposed a new '3-2-1' draft lottery system to discourage tanking by adjusting lottery odds based on team performance and playoff qualification. The plan expands the lottery to 16 teams and penalizes the three worst teams with reduced odds while guaranteeing them a top-12 pick. It also introduces restrictions on consecutive top picks and gives the league more power to punish teams suspected of tanking. The proposal, which requires approval by the Board of Governors, would take effect for the 2027 draft.
- ▪The '3-2-1' system assigns lottery odds based on performance, giving three balls to non-playoff teams outside the bottom three, two to bottom-three teams and Play-In ninth and tenth seeds, and one to Play-In losers.
- ▪Bottom-three teams would be penalized with reduced lottery odds but protected from falling below the 12th pick, while other lottery teams could drop to 16th.
- ▪No team could win the No. 1 pick in consecutive years or three straight top-five picks under the proposal.
- ▪The league would gain expanded authority to reduce lottery odds or alter draft positions for teams found to be tanking.
- ▪The system includes a sunset provision, expiring after the 2029 draft unless extended by a Board of Governors vote.
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NBA proposes new ‘3-2-1’ draft lottery system, sources say. Here’s how it worksNBA general managers met Tuesday to discuss potential changes to the draft lottery in an attempt to disincentivize teams from intentionally losing to improve their lottery odds. Sarah Stier / Getty Images<img alt="Sam Amick" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="intrinsic" style="border-top-left-radius:20px;border-top-right-radius:20px;border-bottom-right-radius:20px;border-bottom-left-radius:20px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%;object-fit:cover" class="image-next-root"…
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