The NBA is changing the rules of the game once again and this time the target is one of the league’s most debated issues in recent years: tanking. The Board of Governors has overwhelmingly approved a major reform of the NBA Draft Lottery system, which will take effect starting with the 2027 NBA Draft.
NBA Draft revolution
The new structure passed by a decisive 29-1 vote, according to reports from Shams Charaniawith the Memphis Grizzlies casting the lone dissenting vote.
The most significant change is the expansion of the lottery field from 14 to 16 teams. The new format will include the teams that finish eighth in each conference, along with those participating in the Play-In Tournament.
In other words, nearly half the league will now have a chance at landing the No. 1 overall pick.
The NBA’s new “3-2-1” system
The most intriguing element of the overhaul is the so-called “3-2-1 lottery” system, designed to redistribute odds and make losing on purpose less rewarding.
- The three worst teams will receive only 2 lottery balls each
- Teams with the 4th through 10th worst records will receive 3 lottery balls
- Play-In teams finishing 9th and 10th will receive 2 lottery balls each
- Teams eliminated from the 7-vs-8 Play-In matchup will receive 1 ball
Additionally, the three worst teams will have a guaranteed floor and cannot fall lower than the 12th pick.
The change is clearly intended to make finishing at the bottom of the standings less advantageous.
Stronger anti-tanking measures and harsher penalties
The NBA isn’t just changing lottery odds. The league, led by Adam Silver – who has also recently discussed introducing artificial intelligence to assist officiating – has adopted more aggressive tools to punish teams that intentionally lose games:
- Reduced lottery odds
- Direct adjustments to draft positioning
- Significant financial penalties for franchises
The message is clear: tanking will no longer be tolerated as a viable long-term strategy.
No more repeated lottery advantages
Among the additional changes:
- No team can receive the No. 1 overall pick in consecutive drafts
- Teams will also be barred from landing a Top-5 pick in three straight years
- New restrictions will apply to protected draft picks (from No. 12 through No. 15)
One example involves the Utah Jazzwhose previously traded pick will not be allowed to move higher than No. 6.
A temporary measure
The new lottery structure is not permanent. It includes a sunset clause that expires after the 2029 season leaving the NBA flexibility to make further changes down the road, potentially including alternative systems such as draft credits.
As Silver emphasized in recent months, the issue of tanking has become a major concern for the league:
This is a decision that affects ownership, competitiveness, and the integrity of the league. We’re going to take it very seriously. And we’re going to solve it
Adam Silver
Now the NBA has followed through on that promise. Whether the new system will actually work remains to be seen. The next few years will provide the answer.
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