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How the NBA Draft Lottery Works

When is the draft lottery?

This year’s draft lottery will be held on May 16, 2017.

Which teams participate in the draft lottery?

There are 14 teams that participate in the lottery every year as it is only for those who did not qualify for the postseason.

Which picks are decided by the lottery?

Although 14 teams participate in the lottery, only the top three picks are up for grabs.

Which team gets the best odds?

The team that finished with the worst win-loss record has the best odds to get the first overall pick in the draft.