NBA Approves “3-2-1” Draft Lottery Reform in 29-1 Vote

What’s changing in the lottery

The NBA’s Board of Governors approved a new draft lottery format called the “3-2-1” model by a 29-1 vote. The change expands the lottery field from 14 to 16 teams and includes a new relegation-zone idea that reduces the worst teams’ odds of landing the top pick.

Under the new setup all 16 non-playoff or play-in teams are part of the lottery. Teams that miss the playoffs or the play-in but aren’t among the three worst (roughly seeds 4–10 in the lottery group) receive three lottery chances. The league’s three worst teams — the so-called relegation zone — get only two chances each and are protected from falling below the 12th pick.

Play-in specifics are adjusted too: the 9th- and 10th-seed play-in teams receive two chances each, and the losers from the 7-vs-8 play-in series get a single chance. The new model means more clubs have meaningful odds while flattening the edge the very worst teams used to have.

Rules, timeline and reaction

There are several new restrictions attached to the reform. No franchise will be allowed to win the No. 1 pick in back-to-back years, and no team can accumulate three straight top-five picks. Teams also lose the ability to protect picks in the 12–15 range.

The changes take effect starting with the next NBA draft and will remain in place at least through 2029. The vote was nearly unanimous — the Memphis Grizzlies were the only team to oppose the plan. League reporters have described the move as an attempt to curb intentional losing and push teams toward competitiveness rather than rebuilding via lottery odds.

Overall, the 3-2-1 model flattens the lottery odds, broadens participation, and adds guardrails to prevent prolonged advantage for consistently weak clubs. Expect it to have a noticeable impact on draft dynamics and team strategies in the coming seasons.