A New Strategy to Deter Intentional Losses

The NBA has taken a significant step toward eradicating the practice of "tanking." Following a push by Commissioner Adam Silver to overhaul the league’s competitive standards, team owners officially voted to implement a modified NBA Draft lottery process. This change aims to restore competitive integrity across the league, ensuring that teams remain incentivized to win throughout the regular season.


The '3-2-1' Lottery Mechanics

Scheduled to take effect for the 2027 NBA Draft and remain in place until at least 2029, the new policy is frequently referred to as the "3-2-1" format. This system widens the pool of teams eligible for the top pick while limiting the statistical advantage previously held by the teams with the poorest records.


Distribution of Lottery Chances

Under the new regulations, all 16 non-playoff teams will have an opportunity to secure the No. 1 overall pick, with lottery balls allocated as follows:

  • Bottom-tier clubs: The three teams with the worst win-loss records will receive two lottery balls, but their selection position will be capped, meaning they cannot select higher than the 12th pick.
  • Non-playoff teams: The seven teams that fail to reach the playoffs or play-in tournament receive three lottery balls.
  • Play-in seeds: Teams that secure the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds in the play-in tournament receive two lottery balls.
  • Play-in losers: Teams defeated in the 7-8 play-in games receive one lottery ball.

Additional Safeguards and Restrictions

Beyond the lottery odds, the league is introducing stricter rules to prevent teams from consistently occupying high draft positions. These measures include:

  • Prohibiting a team from securing the No. 1 overall pick in back-to-back seasons.
  • Restricting any team from earning a top-5 pick for three consecutive years.
  • Eliminating the ability for teams to "protect" picks in the 12 to 15 range moving forward.

Furthermore, the NBA is expected to gain expanded disciplinary authority, allowing the league to impose penalties—such as reduced lottery odds or draft position shifts—on organizations found to be intentionally tanking. As Commissioner Silver stated following a March Board of Governors meeting regarding these issues: "We are going to fix it. Full stop."


The board plans to evaluate the efficacy of the 3-2-1 system after the 2029 draft to determine whether to maintain the current structure or pursue further modifications.