May 10 at 3 p.m. ET: The NBA Lottery Is About to Crown Someone's Savior, and Three Teams Have the Same Shot
It's happening Sunday. The 2026 NBA draft lottery goes down May 10 at McCormick Place in Chicago, and the coverage kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on ABC and the ESPN App. Fourteen teams are fighting for the right to reshape their franchises, but three of them have the exact same odds to land the prize at the top of the board. The Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets each own 14% odds to land the No. 1 pick, all because they finished with the worst records in the league this season.
The Lottery Doesn't Always Reward the Basement Dwellers
Here's the wild part: just last year, the Dallas Mavericks walked away with the No. 1 pick despite having only a 1.8% chance to do it. The year before that, the Atlanta Hawks won the lottery with 3% odds. The lottery is built on chaos, and that's what makes it so fascinating. The worst record doesn't guarantee you anything.
🎲 Want to Make Tonight's Game More Interesting?
Kalshi lets you trade on real sports outcomes — not just spreads. It's the only federally regulated prediction market in the US, and it's available right here in Washington state.
New users get a FREE $10 just for signing up — no deposit required to claim it.
👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThis year, the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings both have 11.5% odds. The Memphis Grizzlies hold 8%, and the Hawks (picking via the New Orleans Pelicans) have 6.8%. The Dallas Mavericks are at 6.7%. After that, the odds drop significantly: Chicago Bulls at 4.5%, Milwaukee Bucks at 3%, Golden State Warriors at 2%, Oklahoma City Thunder at 1.5% via the LA Clippers pick, Miami Heat at 1%, and Charlotte Hornets at 0.5%.
Tiebreakers and Trade Rules Set the Board
The NBA already handled its tiebreaking process on Monday, April 20. Two ties in the top 14 picks had to be resolved, and the most important one involved the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz fighting for the fourth-best odds. Random drawing gave Utah the edge, leaving Sacramento with the fifth slot. The Hawks will end up with the better pick between the Bucks and Pelicans, with Milwaukee getting the lesser one. Oklahoma City gets the Clippers' pick no matter what happens on Sunday.
The draft itself happens June 23 and 24, but everything starts Sunday in Chicago. The lottery is the moment teams find out if their patience paid off or if they're going back to the drawing board one more time.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about .
View X conversation →DFS Pick'em
🏆 Underdog Fantasy: Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries
Use code ONTAP to lock in this offer.
👉 Claim your $50 bonus on Underdog FantasySponsored. Must be 18+. Terms apply.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.