NBA Unveils Revolutionary Anti-Tanking Draft Lottery Reform Starting 2027
Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Yanic Konan Niederhauser stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 30th pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The NBA is preparing for its most significant draft lottery overhaul in decades. According to sources, the league has presented a new anti-tanking reform called the « 3-2-1 lottery » to its 30 general managers, with implementation targeted for the 2027 draft.
The proposal expands the current 14-team lottery to 16 teams and introduces a penalty system for the league’s worst performers. Teams finishing with the fourth through 10th worst records would receive three lottery balls each, while bottom-three teams would be relegated to just two lottery balls but protected with a floor of the No. 12 pick.
Key Changes and Timeline
Under the new framework, teams outside the relegation zone but missing the playoffs or play-in tournament would benefit from increased lottery odds. The ninth and 10th play-in seeds would receive two lottery balls each, while losers of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in games would get one lottery ball.
The league office has held multiple critical meetings with its board of governors, competition committee, and general managers over recent weeks to finalize this proposal ahead of the owners’ May 28 vote. While minor modifications remain possible, the key framework has garnered majority support from teams.
Additional restrictions include prohibiting teams from winning consecutive top picks or securing three consecutive top-five selections. Teams also would not be able to protect picks in slots 12 through 15 going forward.
Commissioner’s Vision and Implementation
NBA commissioner Adam Silver emphasized the philosophy behind these changes during a recent Competition Committee call, stating: « We should have a system where you should hate to lose. It shouldn’t be a badge of honor. Losing should be uncomfortable. »
The proposal includes expanded disciplinary authority for the league to regulate tanking, with options to reduce lottery odds or modify draft positions for offending teams. A sunset provision ensures the system expires after the 2029 draft, coinciding with the current collective bargaining agreement that runs through the 2029-2030 season.
Silver made fixing tanking his top priority in March, citing the escalating issue driven by the loaded 2026 draft class and existing incentives that push teams toward strategic losing. Many league executives acknowledge this may represent an overcorrection, but one the majority believes necessary to preserve competitive integrity.
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