Trending Now - NBA Introduces Draft Lottery Changes to Combat Tanking

WHO:

SB Nation - NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

Hoops Rumors - NBA executive VP and head of basketball operations James Jones

Hoops Rumors - NBA executive vice president Evan Wasch

WHAT:

SB Nation - The NBA passed new lottery reform rules with a 29-1 vote.

SB Nation - The new rules prohibit teams from picking in the top-5 for three consecutive years or from selecting No. 1 overall in consecutive years.

SB Nation - The Memphis Grizzlies will be affected by the new rules regarding the Utah Jazz’s unprotected first-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, which is now top-5 protected.

SB Nation - The NBA will flip the top-16 picks from the first round in the second round, meaning the team that picks No. 16 in the first round will pick first in the second round.

Hoops Rumors - The new format includes a "relegation zone" for the bottom three clubs, whose odds at a top pick become slightly less favorable.

WHERE:

SB Nation - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where the NBA Western Conference Finals took place.

WHEN:

SB Nation - The NBA's lottery reform was passed on a Thursday afternoon.

SB Nation - The new lottery system will be in effect for three years, with a potential reevaluation in the 2030 NBA Draft.

WHY:

SB Nation - The changes were made to address a purported tanking crisis in the NBA.

Hoops Rumors - James Jones stated that the previous system of punishing tankers through investigations and fines was not satisfactory.

Hoops Rumors - The league aims to ensure that teams do not feel incentivized to lose games.

HOW:

SB Nation - The NBA decided not to grandfather in traded picks under the new rules to avoid creating imbalances.

Hoops Rumors - The new lottery format allows the league office to penalize teams believed to be tanking by modifying their draft position or reducing their lottery odds.

(UPDATED May 30, 2026 06:07 UTC)

In a significant move, the NBA has passed new lottery reform rules with a decisive 29-1 vote, aimed at addressing concerns over tanking in the league. The new regulations will prevent teams from picking in the top five for three consecutive years and prohibit consecutive No. 1 overall selections, while also introducing a "relegation zone" for the bottom three clubs, making their odds for a top pick slightly less favorable. The Memphis Grizzlies will be impacted by these changes, particularly regarding the Utah Jazz’s unprotected first-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, which is now top-five protected.