Sources: NBA's BOG passes anti-tanking changes
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- NBA Board of Governors voted 29‑1 on Thursday to overhaul the draft lottery, expanding it to 16 teams starting with the 2027 draft.
- 3-2-1 lottery gives the three worst teams only two ping‑pong balls each, the next seven worst three balls each, and guarantees a floor pick of No. 12 for the bottom three.
- Play‑in seeds (9‑10) and the losers of the 7‑8 play‑in games now receive lottery balls (two and one respectively), bringing all 16 lottery‑eligible teams into the draw.
- Anti‑tanking rules prohibit a team from winning the No. 1 pick in consecutive years and from holding a top‑five pick for three straight drafts, affecting the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz.
- NBA will also wield expanded disciplinary power, including fines and the ability to alter lottery odds or draft positions for teams deemed to be tanking.
Why it matters: Teams that previously tanked for top lottery odds lose the advantage of a guaranteed No. 1 pick, while the league gains leverage to fine or reshuffle draft positions, potentially altering future roster construction and franchise revenue.
