The NBA playoffs are heating up as teams look ahead to the upcoming draft lottery, which will set the stage for the next season.
This lottery will determine the selection order for the first 14 picks in the upcoming draft. A total of 14 teams that did not make the playoffs are eligible for selections tonight. Notably, the lottery will decide the top four picks, and the three teams with the poorest records each hold a 14% chance of securing the first overall pick.
After the top four are selected, the remaining picks are arranged based on each team’s regular season performance, in reverse order.
So, how does this lottery actually function?
The process involves 14 ping pong balls numbered from 1 to 14. When the drawing occurs, if all 14 balls are drawn, there are 1,001 possible combinations. Of those, 1,000 combinations will be assigned ahead of time to the participating teams for the lottery, culminating in a precise process that determines the top four picks.
The team that wins the top pick might go for Cooper Flag from Duke University.
What time does the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery start?
The draft lottery kicks off on May 12th at 7 PM, broadcasting live from the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.
Which channel will air the NBA Draft Lottery?
You can catch the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on ESPN.
How to watch the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery for free:
If you don’t have cable, there are options. Live TV streaming services like DirectV include ESPN, which is one of the better choices. They offer packages at varying prices, typically starting around $69.99 per month.
2025 NBA Draft Lottery Odds:
Here’s a look at the odds of the 14 teams vying for the first overall pick:
| Team | Lottery Odds |
|---|---|
| Utah Jazz | 14.0% |
| Washington Wizards | 14.0% |
| Charlotte Hornets | 14.0% |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 12.5% |
| Philadelphia 76ers (potentially converted to Oklahoma City) | 10.5% |
| Brooklyn Nets | 9.0% |
| Toronto Raptors | 7.5% |
| San Antonio Spurs | 6.0% |
| Phoenix Suns (to Houston via Brooklyn) | 3.8% |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 3.7% |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1.8% |
| Chicago Bulls | 1.7% |
| Sacramento Kings (might convert to Atlanta) | 0.8% |
| Atlanta Hawks (to San Antonio) | 0.7% |
Key Dates for the 2025 NBA Draft:
- May 11th-18: NBA Draft Combine
- June 15th: Deadline for early entry withdrawal
- June 25th: First Round of the 2025 NBA Draft
- June 26th: Round 2 of the 2025 NBA Draft
