The NBA voted to approve a new draft lottery system designed to eliminate incentives for teams to tank during the regular season, the league announced on Thursday, May 28.
The “3-2-1 Lottery” approved by the NBA expands the lottery from 14 to 16 teams and flattens odds for teams that don’t make the NBA playoffs or play-in tournament. The new system takes effect beginning with the 2027 NBA Draft.
The NBA said in its announcement that the league office has met with key stakeholders to discuss current competitive incentives and solicit ideas aimed at discouraging tanking since October. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said combating tanking was a priority for the league at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in February.
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2025: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2025: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2024: Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2023: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2022: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2021: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2020: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2019: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2018: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2017: Markelle Fultz, Philadelphia 76ers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2016: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2015: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2014: Andrew Wiggins, Cleveland Cavaliers (traded two months later to Minnesota Timberwolves)
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2011: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2010: John Wall, Washington Wizards
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2007: Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2002: Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2000: Kenyon Martin, New Jersey Nets
(Brett Hansbauer, US PRESSWIRE)
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1998: Michael Olowokandi, Los Angeles Clippers
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1997: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
(TOM MIHALEK, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1996: Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
(TOM MIHALEK, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1995: Joe Smith, Golden State Warriors
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1994: Glenn Robinson, Milwaukee Bucks
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1993: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1992: Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1991: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets
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NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1990: Derrick Coleman, New Jersey Nets
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
2026 NBA DRAFT: Early entry tracker for who’s staying in draft, returning to school
Under the new system, which goes into effect for the 2027 NBA Draft, the teams with the three worst records will be “draft relegated” and have worse lottery odds to receive a top pick compared to other teams that did not qualify for the play-in tournament. Each of the “draft relegated” teams can pick no worse than No. 12 in the draft order.
No team will be permitted to select No. 1 overall in consecutive years, nor can a team receive a top-five pick in three straight drafts. The restrictions apply only to each team’s own pick, regardless of whether the pick was retained by the team via trade or traded to another team.
It means for the 2027 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies will not be allowed to select within the top five using the 2027 first-round pick they obtained from the Utah Jazz in a trade deadline deal centered around Jaren Jackson Jr. The Jazz picked within the top five in each of the past two drafts and therefore aren’t eligible to pick within the top-five again.
The Grizzlies were the only team to vote against the NBA’s new 3-2-1 lottery system, according to multiple reports.
The NBA also announced it will have additional disciplinary authority to address tanking as a result of the new system, including “the ability to reduce teams’ lottery odds, modify teams’ draft positions and impose significant fines on offending teams.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA approves new ‘3-2-1’ draft lottery to combat tanking problem
