What Is the NBA Draft?
The NBA Draft is an annual event where all 30 NBA teams select eligible players — primarily from American colleges and international leagues — to join their rosters. It is the main pathway for new talent to enter the NBA.
The draft consists of two rounds with 30 picks each, for a total of 60 selections. Players not drafted can sign as undrafted free agents and attend training camps, though making the 15-man roster from that position is difficult.
The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 26, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Dylan Harper (Rutgers) is projected #1 overall, with Ace Bailey (Rutgers) and Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois) rounding out the top three.
Who Can Enter the NBA Draft?
NBA eligibility rules differ from the NFL. A player must meet one of these criteria:
- US college players: Must have completed one year of college (the "one-and-done" rule). They must be at least 19 years old in the calendar year of the draft.
- International players: Must be at least 19 years old in the draft year. Can enter directly from European or other professional leagues at any point if they meet age requirements.
- High school players: Not eligible to enter directly since the 2005 rule change (the "one-and-done" rule). The NBA has been debating changing this.
Players can withdraw their name from the draft and return to college as long as they do so before the draft withdrawal deadline (typically early June). This allows underclassmen to get feedback from teams without committing.
The NBA Draft Lottery
Unlike the NFL, the NBA doesn't simply give the worst team the #1 pick. Instead, the 14 teams that did not make the playoffs enter the NBA Draft Lottery — a randomized drawing held in May to determine the top four picks.
How the Lottery Works
Each of the 14 non-playoff teams is assigned a number of lottery combinations out of 1,000 total. The team with the worst record gets the most combinations (and thus the best odds), but cannot be guaranteed the top pick. The lottery determines picks 1–4; picks 5–14 then follow inverse order of record.
| Record Rank (Worst = 1) | Odds: #1 Pick | Combinations |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Worst Record | 140 / 1,000 | |
| #2 Worst Record | 140 / 1,000 | |
| #3 Worst Record | 140 / 1,000 | |
| #4 Worst Record | 125 / 1,000 | |
| #5 Worst Record | 105 / 1,000 | |
| #6 Worst Record | 90 / 1,000 | |
| #7 Worst Record | 75 / 1,000 | |
| #8–#14 | Down to 5 combinations |
The lottery was introduced in 1985 to prevent teams from deliberately losing games ("tanking") to secure the #1 pick. The current flattened odds (top 3 teams each have 14%) make tanking less rewarding since any of the bottom 14 teams can theoretically land #1.
The Two Rounds
The NBA Draft has only two rounds (vs. the NFL's seven). This means draft capital is more concentrated and valuable. Every pick matters significantly:
- Round 1 (Picks 1–30): Players receive guaranteed rookie contracts for 2–4 years. First-rounders are expected to make the team and contribute. Lottery picks (#1–#14) are especially valuable — these players often anchor rebuilds.
- Round 2 (Picks 31–60): Non-guaranteed contracts. Teams can cut these players without paying them. Some teams use second-rounders on players they stash overseas for a year or two (particularly Europeans).
Rookie Contracts
NBA rookie contracts are set on a fixed rookie scale — the league and players' union agree on the salary range for each pick slot. You don't negotiate your first contract; it's largely predetermined by where you were drafted.
Trading Draft Picks
Like the NFL, NBA draft picks are highly tradeable assets. Teams frequently swap picks in deals to acquire veteran players, and rebuilding franchises accumulate picks as capital to eventually trade for stars.
The "Stepien Rule"
Teams cannot trade first-round picks in consecutive years. If you trade your 2026 first-round pick, you cannot also trade your 2027 first-rounder. This prevents teams from accidentally having no picks for multiple years. Named after Ted Stepien, a Cavaliers owner who traded away picks recklessly in the 1980s.
Pick Protections
Picks are often traded with protections — conditions that prevent the pick from transferring if it lands in a certain range. For example, "top-5 protected" means the pick only transfers if it falls outside the top 5. If the protection is triggered, the pick typically rolls to the following year.