How are Draft Picks determined for the NBA Draft?:
Structure:
- All 30 teams get assigned one draft pick for each of the two rounds
Order:
- First 3 picks are determined by weighted lottery drawing of the 14 non-playoff teams, with the teams with worse records receiving more number combinations (See #NBA Draft Lottery Odds below).
- After the first 3 picks, all teams are placed in reverse order of their regular season record.
- Second round order is determined by reverse order of regular season record including playoff teams.
Eligibility:
- Player must be 19 years old during draft calender year, and at least one season has passed since graduation of high school. If player did not graduate high school
- Player must declare his eligibility 60 days before draft
- Players are automatically eligible if United States player completes college eligibility or international player turns 22 by December 31.
- An American player who signs a contract and plays for an international team is automatically eligible by age of 19.
- No player is eligible for more than 2 drafts
- Player loses college eligibility if agent is hired, or declares for draft twice
NBA Draft Lottery Odds:
Up until the 2018 NBA Draft, the team with the worst record had the highest odds (25%) for the #1 pick. This model was changed for the 2019 NBA Draft in an effort to prevent tanking, whereupon the 3 worst teams would have the same odds and the odds for teams lower would be increased.
NBA Draft Lottery Odds at #1 Pick
Worst Season Record |
Odds at #1 |
1st |
14% |
2nd |
14% |
3rd |
14% |
4th |
12.5% |
5th |
10.5% |
6th |
9% |
7th |
7.5% |
8th |
6% |
9th |
4.5% |
10th |
3% |
11th |
2% |
12th |
1.5% |
13th |
1% |
14th |
0.5% |
1st Seed= Team with Worst Record in NBA Regular Season
14th Seed= Team with Best Record of non-playoff teams