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2026 Nba Draft Lottery Odds: Wizards, Pacers, Nets Have Best Chance At No. 1

2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds: Wizards, Pacers, Nets have best chance at No. 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

A stacked incoming draft class could change the trajectories for many desperate NBA franchises.

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is coming up, with three teams tied for the best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick. All three are in the Eastern Conference, a conference that could benefit from an injection of young talent.

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, UNC forward Caleb Wilson, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson and Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. are among the top prospects, though the list of possible impact players extends a few more names.

Here’s what to know about the lottery, which should make for an enthralling viewing as the draft board could go in numerous directions:

When is the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery?

The lottery will be held on Sunday, May 10. Coverage will start at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on ABC.

Who will pick first in the 2026 NBA Draft?

The draft lottery odds are sorted with the teams with the worst records leading the way. This year, the three teams tied for the best odds at picking first overall are the Washington Wizards (17-65), Indiana Pacers (19-63) and Brooklyn Nets (20-62).

2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds with ties included

The Wizards, Pacers, Nets, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings have the best odds at picking first, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

Last year, the Dallas Mavericks made the biggest leap to pick No. 1 in a class that featured Cooper Flagg. Dallas had the 11th-best odds in a year where they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Here’s a look at this year’s odds with ties included, via Tankathon:

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	AVG
Wizards	14.0	13.4	12.7	12.0	47.9										3.7
Pacers	14.0	13.4	12.7	12.0	27.8	20.1									3.9
Nets	14.0	13.4	12.7	12.0	14.8	26.0	7.0								4.1
Jazz	11.5	11.4	11.2	11.0	7.5	27.1	17.9	2.4							4.6
Kings	11.5	11.4	11.2	11.0	2.0	18.2	25.5	8.5	0.6						4.8
Grizzlies	9.0	9.2	9.4	9.6		8.6	29.7	20.6	3.7	0.2					5.5
Hawks (via Pelicans)	6.8	7.1	7.5	7.9			19.8	35.6	13.8	1.4	>0.0				6.4
Mavericks	6.7	7.0	7.4	7.8				32.9	31.1	6.6	0.4	>0.0			6.9
Bulls	4.5	4.8	5.2	5.7					50.8	25.9	3.0	0.1	>0.0		8.0
Bucks	3.0	3.3	3.6	4.0						65.9	19.0	1.2	>0.0	>0.0	9.2
Warriors	2.0	2.2	2.4	2.8							77.6	12.6	0.4	>0.0	10.3
Thunder (via Clippers)	1.5	1.7	1.9	2.1								86.1	6.7	0.1	11.4
Heat	1.0	1.1	1.2	1.4									92.9	2.3	12.5
Hornets	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.7										97.6	13.7

2026 NBA Draft Lottery odds without ties included

Here’s how the odds shape up without ties, via Tankathon:

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	AVG
Wizards	14.0	13.4	12.7	12.0	47.9										3.7
Pacers	14.0	13.4	12.7	12.0	27.8	20.0									3.9
Nets	14.0	13.4	12.7	12.0	14.8	26.0	7.0								4.1
Jazz	12.5	12.2	11.9	11.5	7.2	25.7	16.7	2.2							4.4
Kings	10.5	10.5	10.6	10.5	2.2	19.6	26.7	8.7	0.6						5.0
Grizzlies	9.0	9.2	9.4	9.6		8.6	29.8	20.5	3.7	0.1					5.5
Hawks (via Pelicans)	7.5	7.8	8.1	8.5			19.7	34.1	12.9	1.3	>0.0				6.2
Mavericks	6.0	6.3	6.7	7.2				34.5	32.1	6.7	0.4	>0.0			7.0
Bulls	4.5	4.8	5.2	5.7					50.7	25.9	3.0	0.1	>0.0		8.0
Bucks	3.0	3.3	3.6	4.0						65.9	19.0	1.2	>0.0	>0.0	9.2
Warriors	2.0	2.2	2.4	2.8							77.6	12.6	0.4	>0.0	10.3
Thunder (via Clippers)	1.5	1.7	1.9	2.1								86.1	6.7	0.1	11.5
Heat	1.0	1.1	1.2	1.4									92.9	2.3	12.5
Hornets	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.7										97.6	13.7

When is the 2026 NBA Draft?

Now split into two days, the first round will be held on Tuesday, June 23. The second round will follow on Wednesday, June 24.

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