The NBA Draft is an annual event where the 30 teams in the National Basketball Association select eligible players to join their organizations. Dating back to 1947, the draft has evolved into a two-round selection process that takes place near the end of June during the NBA offseason. Each year, 60 players are chosen across the two rounds, with every team receiving at least one pick.
The process begins with the NBA Draft Lottery, which determines the order of the first four picks. Only the 14 teams that did not make the playoffs are eligible for the lottery. The league assigns 1,000 possible number combinations to these teams based on their regular-season records, with the worst-performing teams receiving more combinations. An NBA official then draws four numbers, and the team matching those combinations wins the top pick. This process repeats for the second, third, and fourth selections.
After the lottery determines the top four picks, the remaining lottery teams (positions 5 through 14) are ordered by inverse regular-season record — meaning the team with the fifth-worst record gets the fifth pick, and so on. The non-lottery playoff teams (positions 15 through 30) are then slotted in reverse order of their playoff performance, with the NBA Finals runner-up selecting 29th and the champion picking 30th.
Player eligibility rules vary depending on background. For U.S. College players, those who have completed four years of eligibility are automatically eligible for the draft. Underclassmen must declare their eligibility and forfeit remaining college eligibility to enter. International players aged 22 or older are automatically eligible, while those younger than 22 must declare their eligibility. Players who declare eligibility before automatic eligibility are often referred to as “early-entrants.”
The NBA Draft Combine, held annually in Chicago, serves as a pre-draft evaluation event where prospects undergo medical testing, athletic measurements, skill drills, and interviews with team personnel. This event provides franchises with critical data to inform their decisions ahead of selection night. In recent years, the combine has included shooting tests, strength assessments, and agility drills designed to evaluate NBA readiness.
Trades are a common feature of draft night, with teams frequently exchanging picks, players, or future considerations to move up or down the draft order. A team may trade a veteran player for a higher pick to select a targeted prospect, or bundle multiple second-round picks to move into the first round. These transactions are permitted until the draft concludes and are often used to address roster needs or accelerate rebuilding timelines.
The draft has produced numerous franchise-altering selections over its history. While most draftees come from U.S. College basketball, an increasing number of international players are being selected from professional leagues abroad, the NBA G League Ignite program, or youth development leagues. Notably, some of the NBA’s biggest stars, including Nikola Jokić, were selected in the second round — proving that value can be found throughout the draft.
Front offices view the draft as one of their most consequential annual decisions. A successful pick can elevate a franchise for a decade, while a missed selection — particularly in the lottery — can hinder long-term competitiveness. Teams invest heavily in scouting, analytics, and player development to maximize their chances of identifying future contributors.
As the 2026 NBA Draft approaches, the 14 teams participating in the lottery have been finalized following the conclusion of the play-in tournament. Prospects from college, international leagues, and developmental programs continue to prepare for their opportunity to hear their names called. The event remains a cornerstone of NBA team-building, shaping the league’s future one selection at a time.
The next official update regarding the 2026 NBA Draft will be the announcement of the official draft order following the completion of the NBA Playoffs and play-in tournament, expected in mid-to-late April 2026. Fans and analysts are encouraged to follow official NBA channels for verified information as the process unfolds.
