How To Watch 2025 NBA Draft Lottery
May 7, 2025, 1:10 PM | Updated: 1:16 pm
A detailed view of a Gold Edition Wilson basketball during the first round of the NBA Draft (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery is fast approaching and teams that missed the playoffs will be anxiously watching to see if Lady Luck is on their side.
With Duke freshman Cooper Flagg projected to be selected first overall, fans across the league will be tuned in to see if the NBA Draft lottery balls fall their way.
Related: Cooper Flagg – NBA Draft Scouting Report
How Does The NBA Draft Lottery Work?
During the NBA Draft Lottery, the teams that own picks 1-14 are assigned a four-digit number combination that will help determine where they select on draft night.
Each team is assigned a specific number of combinations that coincide with their odds of winning the top overall pick, with the league’s three worst teams each owning 14 percent of the 1,001 combinations, and the remaining 11 teams assigned a gradually decreasing number of lottery combinations.
The lottery process is held four times to determine the top four picks, after which selections 5-14 are assigned to non-lottery winners according to their regular season record from worst to best.
Ties have been broken by the league. Official pre-Lottery two round order is updated: https://t.co/FXkXbE02qc https://t.co/BNBDMWJuBN pic.twitter.com/D8Ids0uEZY
— Tankathon.com (@tankathon) April 22, 2025
The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets had the three worst records in the NBA this season, and each owns a 14 percent chance of landing the top overall pick.
The three teams each have a 52.1 percent chance of landing one of the top four selections, and a 47.9 percent chance of falling to the fifth pick or lower.
Since the lottery only determines the top four selections, teams can fall no further than four spots below their end-of-season positioning.
Thus, the league-worst Jazz can fall no further than fifth, the Wizards can fall no further than sixth, the Hornets can fall no further than seventh, and so on.
The actual NBA Draft will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 25-26.
When Is The NBA Draft Lottery?
The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 12 in Chicago on the second day of the NBA Combine.
What Channel Is The Draft Lottery On?
The actual lottery is held in private with representatives from the 14 teams and members of the media. The results of the draft lottery will be revealed on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m. EST on May 12.
Fans can stream the draft lottery on Watch ESPN, or listen to our full NBA Draft Lottery reaction show on 97.5 the KSL Sports zone and the KSL Sports app.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
