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Chicago Hosts 2026 NBA Draft Lottery; Three Teams Tie

5/5/2026

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Summary

NBA Draft Lottery

The United States will host the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets each have a 14% chance to win the No. 1 pick.
The Wizards also have a 52.1% chance to finish in the top four.
The Miami Heat (1%/4.8%) and Oklahoma City Thunder (1.5%/7.1%) each have respective chances at No. 1 and top-four slots.

Summary

Burries Trade Target

Arizona Wildcats sent four prospects to the 2026 NBA Draft after a season and Final Four since 2001.
Guard Brayden Burries posted 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists, earning Matt Babcock’s praise for toughness.
Memphis may trade Ja Morant and could target Burries if its lottery pick lands 6-10.
Forward Koa Peat projects in the 20s while Sixth Man Tobe Awaka earned a Chicago NBA Combine invite.

History

Historical Context

On June 26 2003 the NBA held its first ESPN-televised draft at Madison Square Garden, where the Cleveland Cavaliers, who held a 22.5 % lottery chance, selected high-school phenom LeBron James first overall. His entry followed Kevin Garnett’s 1995 high-school jump and helped spur the 2006 CBA rule banning prep-to-pro picks, a legacy echoed in today’s 2026 lottery.

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NBA Draft Lottery

The United States will host the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets each have a 14% chance to win the No. 1 pick.
The Wizards also have a 52.1% chance to finish in the top four.
The Miami Heat (1%/4.8%) and Oklahoma City Thunder (1.5%/7.1%) each have respective chances at No. 1 and top-four slots.

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