The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is just days away, and the excitement is building for what promises to be one of the most anticipated drafts in recent memory. With a loaded class of prospects and a potential format change on the horizon, this year's lottery could be the last of its kind.

Three teams enter the lottery with the best chance to land the No. 1 pick: the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets. Each holds a 14% chance of winning the top spot, thanks to finishing with the league's three worst records. But as recent history shows, the lottery rarely goes exactly as expected. Last year, the Dallas Mavericks jumped from a lower position to win the lottery and eventually selected Cooper Flagg, who went on to become Rookie of the Year. Even the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who posted the best record for the second straight season, could land the top pick—thanks to the Los Angeles Clippers' pick they acquired in the Paul George trade.

The lottery takes place Sunday, May 10, at 3 p.m. ET at Chicago's McCormick Place convention center, coinciding with the draft combine. The event will air on ABC, just ahead of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.

Here's how it works: The 14 teams that missed the playoffs are entered into the lottery, with the three worst records each holding a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick. The full odds are based on regular-season records, with ties broken by random drawing. One key wrinkle: due to the Ivica Zubac trade, if the Pacers' pick lands between the 5th and 9th spots, it will go to the Clippers. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans owe their unprotected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks from a 2025 draft-night trade.

This year's lottery could be the last in its current format, as the league is expected to introduce a new system next season aimed at reducing tanking. For now, fans can look forward to a dramatic afternoon that will set the stage for a draft class full of future stars.