Fourteen teams, one coveted prize. The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery represents the turning point for struggling franchises as they vie for the chance to select projected No.1 pick Cooper Flagg, widely considered the most impactful prospect in years.
On May 12, fortunes will be decided as the NBA determines which team gets first pick on transformational talent that could alter an organization’s trajectory for years to come.
Essential Details: 2025 NBA Draft Lottery
Chicago will host the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on Monday, May 12. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN with Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum set to reveal the results live during the broadcast. Fans can catch all the action through ESPN or via the NBA streaming hub.
Fourteen teams that missed the 2025 playoffs will participate in the lottery.
From the Eastern Conference: Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards.
From the Western Conference: Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans, and Portland Trail Blazers.
The Utah Jazz finished with the league’s worst record at 17-65, giving them 14% odds for the top pick. The Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets also hold 14% odds, while New Orleans follows with 12.5% chances. Several picks may be conveyed to other teams based on previous trade agreements.
Understanding the Lottery Process
The actual lottery procedure takes place in a separate room before the televised broadcast. Representatives from the participating teams, select media, NBA officials, and accounting firm Ernst & Young witness the drawings to ensure transparency and fairness in the process.
The lottery machine contains fourteen numbered balls that are mixed for 20 seconds before the first ball is drawn. After an additional 10 seconds of mixing periods, the second, third, and fourth balls are removed. The team assigned to that specific number combination receives the number one pick.
The same process is then again repeated to determine picks two through four. The remaining lottery teams select in positions five through fourteen based on inverse order of their regular season records.
The entire process remains confidential until the envelopes are opened during the broadcast.
This year’s draft class features potential superstars from the college ranks. ESPN draft experts project Cooper Flagg (Duke), Dylan Harper (Rutgers), Ace Bailey (Rutgers), VJ Edgecombe (Baylor), and Tre Johnson (Texas) as likely top-five selections who could transform whichever franchise lands them.
The 2025 NBA Draft itself will take place across two days: June 25 (first round) and June 26 (second round) in Brooklyn.
KEEP READING: Which Teams Have The Best Odds To Land The No.1 Pick In the NBA Draft Lottery?
The first round will air on ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN app, while the second round will be broadcast on ESPN and the ESPN app, with ESPN Radio providing coverage for both rounds.
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