What Is the ‘NBA Draft’ in Sports?

The “NBA Draft” is the annual event where NBA teams select new players to join the league.

Think of it as a giant, televised job fair where the 30 NBA teams take turns hiring the best young basketball talent from colleges (like Duke or Kentucky) and international leagues.

How It Works

Unlike the NFL, where the worst team automatically gets the first pick, the NBA uses a unique system called the “Draft Lottery.”

1. The Lottery (Picks 1-4): The 14 teams that missed the playoffs are entered into a lottery. Ping-pong balls are drawn to decide who gets the top 4 picks. The worse your record, the better your odds (more ping-pong balls), but nothing is guaranteed.
2. The Rest (Picks 5-60): After the top 4 are set, the rest of the draft order is based on record (worst to best).
3. Two Rounds Only: The draft is short! There are only two rounds (60 total picks), compared to 7 rounds in the NFL or 20 in MLB.