The NBA’s Board of Governors has passed new anti-tanking rules that include expanding the draft lottery from 14 to 16 teams, a relegation zone where the bottom 3 teams get penalized with lessened chances for the No. 1 pick, and flattened odds, sources tell ESPN.
The decision marks one of the most significant changes to the NBA Draft system in decades and reflects growing concern throughout the league about teams intentionally losing games to improve their lottery position.
The NBA makes an unprecedented move in American pro sports leagues by punishing the very worst teams in the draft lottery and creating a new system to incentivize winning, after months of meetings and conversations among league, ownership, and team stakeholders.
League officials and team executives reportedly spent months evaluating possible solutions as concerns mounted over the increasing number of franchises prioritizing draft position over on-court competitiveness.
A radical response from the NBA to radical behavior, with nearly 8-to-10 teams jockeying for lottery odds down stretch of this season.
The league believes the new framework will discourage teams from embracing prolonged losing strategies and instead reward organizations that continue competing throughout the entire season, regardless of their place in the standings.
The new “3-2-1” lottery starts next Draft and lasts through at least 2029. Under the revised system, the league hopes to restore greater competitive integrity late in the season, reduce incentives for tanking, and create a more balanced path toward rebuilding.
The effectiveness of the format will be closely monitored over the coming years, with the NBA prepared to assess its impact before determining whether the system should become a permanent feature beyond 2029.
The NBA makes an unprecedented move in American pro sports league by punishing the very worst teams in the draft lottery and creating a new system to incentivize winning — after months of meetings and conversations among league, ownership and team stakeholders. A radical response… https://t.co/GBKrZzc69x
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 28, 2026
