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May 10 Chicago Draft Lottery: Wizards, Pacers, Nets 14%

5/5/2026

37 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The 2026 Draft Lottery is in Chicago on May 10, at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Wizards, Pacers and Nets each have a 14 % chance to win the No. 1 pick.
The lottery draws four of 14 ping-pong balls without order, creating 1,001 combos for the 14 teams.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announces the picks in reverse order, revealing the 14th pick first and the No. 1 pick last.

History

Historical Context

In May 1985 the NBA introduced its first draft lottery, a live envelope draw that awarded the New York Knicks the No. 1 pick, which they used on Georgetown center Patrick Ewing. That lottery followed a draft trimmed to seven rounds, yielding 162 players for 23 teams and establishing a chance-based method that the 2026 Chicago lottery still employs, shaping team-building strategies.

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Story summary

The 2026 Draft Lottery is in Chicago on May 10, at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Wizards, Pacers and Nets each have a 14 % chance to win the No. 1 pick.
The lottery draws four of 14 ping-pong balls without order, creating 1,001 combos for the 14 teams.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announces the picks in reverse order, revealing the 14th pick first and the No. 1 pick last.

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