The Washington Wizards have won the NBA's unofficial "tank war," securing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after finishing with a league-worst 17–65 record. With a 14% chance of winning the lottery—tied with the Pacers and Nets for the best odds—the Wizards' patience paid off in Chicago.

The Utah Jazz, despite having the fifth-best odds, landed the No. 2 pick, while the Memphis Grizzlies jumped to No. 3 with the sixth-best odds. The Chicago Bulls made the biggest leap, climbing from the ninth-best odds to snag the No. 4 pick. However, the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets weren't as fortunate, both falling outside the top four.

That slide was especially costly for the Pacers, who traded a top-four protected pick in this draft to the Los Angeles Clippers for Ivica Zubac. Since Indiana fell to No. 5, the Clippers will now receive that pick. The Nets will select at No. 6.

This year's draft class has been generating serious buzz, with scouts touting it as one of the deepest in recent memory. The top tier features BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and Duke big man Cameron Boozer. In recent weeks, UNC forward Caleb Wilson has also emerged as a top prospect, turning a highly-touted trio into a coveted foursome.

But the Wizards' victory may be one of the last of its kind. After several seasons of blatant tanking across the league, the NBA is pushing for reform. ESPN reported late last month that the league proposed a "3–2–1 lottery" system at a board of governors meeting, which would expand the lottery from 14 to 16 teams as early as next season. The move aims to discourage teams from intentionally losing games for better draft positioning—a shift that could reshape how franchises approach rebuilding.