The outcome of the NBA Draft rarely impacts basketball betting markets instantly, but many of the league’s greatest ever teams were built through the draft. It’s where dynasties are made, and front offices can make or break their careers.
Prospects like Zion Williamson and Victor Wembanyama garner extraordinary hype. While being able to select a generational talent is the dream for any general manager, success in the draft is often about landing steals outside the first few picks.
It doesn’t have to finding an MVP like Nikola Jokic in the second round, it can be landing a serviceable starter at the back-end of the first round or picking up a reliable role player in the mid-second.
If you’re going to be delving into NBA odds, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with how the draft works.
How Does The NBA Draft Work?
The NBA Draft takes place every offseason after the Finals. Draft picks can be players from other professional leagues, college players, or G-League prospects. Rules to be eligible for the NBA Draft have changed considerably throughout the history of the league.
There are two rounds in the NBA Draft. With 30 teams in the league, that means a total of 60 picks each year (this is sometimes reduced when teams lose draft selections as a result of violating league rules).
Each team is ‘on the clock’ when it’s their turn to pick. They are given a set time to make their selection.
Draft picks are frequently traded in the NBA, which can result in teams drafting on behalf of others and there are also a lot of Draft night trades – this can complicate things when watching live.
Every selection is announced on stage. Once a team has made their pick, the clock begins for the following team. Players do not have a choice over which team they are drafted to, though some agents will try to dissuade certain franchises from drafting their players.
Players receive an allocated salary after being drafted dictated by their Draft position. The first overall pick gets the highest salary, followed by second overall, third overall, and so on.
All first-round picks receive a rookie-scale contract – they then agree between 80% and 120% of their allocated figure.
Second round draftees are signed via cap space, an exception or to a two-way deal. Contracts for second-round selections can get complicate with non-guaranteed deals and various option years.
How Is The NBA Draft Order Decided?
The NBA Draft order is decided based on team records in the previous season.
The team with the best record selects 30th, with the second-best record going 29th, and the third-best record selecting 28th. Lots are drawn to decide ties.
Since 1985, a lottery has been used to allocate the top picks. In its current format, all 14 non-playoff teams enter the Draft lottery.
Only the top four picks are chosen via the lottery, with the remaining 10 teams falling in order of their record. This is designed to bring some randomness to the Draft, and has been tweaked over the years to disincentivise tanking.
In 2019, the NBA flattened the lottery odds and extended the number of picks selected via lottery to four from three.
Four lottery balls are used. There are 1,000 eligible combinations, and depending on their record, teams are allocated a set number of combinations. For example, the three teams with the worst records are given 140 combinations.
If picks in the lottery have been traded, the record of the original team is what counts towards the lottery odds.
Here are the chances of each seed obtaining the first overall pick:
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140 combinations, 14.0% chance
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140 combinations, 14.0% chance
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140 combinations, 14.0% chance
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125 combinations, 12.5% chance
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105 combinations, 10.5% chance
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90 combinations, 9.0% chance
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75 combinations, 7.5% chance
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60 combinations, 6.0% chance
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45 combinations, 4.5% chance
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30 combinations, 3.0% chance
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20 combinations, 2.0% chance
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15 combinations, 1.5% chance
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10 combinations, 1.0% chance
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5 combinations, 0.5% chance
When Does the NBA Draft Take Place?
The NBA Draft takes place after the Finals and before free agency. This is usually towards the end of June.
Teams have time after the season and before the Draft to trade up or down in the Draft.
Teams without picks can look to trade into the Draft, while others might look to shift their picks for future assets or players who can help them win in the short term.
Who Is Eligible For the NBA Draft?
College players who have completed four years of college eligibility are automatically eligible. The same goes for international players at least 22 years old.
Players still eligible at college level and younger international players need to declare their eligibility.
You can be drafted to the NBA from international professional leagues or the G-League Ignite. Players must be at least 19 years old at the end of the calendar year of their Draft.
Since 2006, high school players have not been eligible for the Draft. They have to wait a year after leaving high school.
NBA First Overall Picks In 21st Century
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2023 – Victor Wembanyama
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2022 – Paolo Banchero
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2021 – Cade Cunningham
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2020 – Anthony Edwards
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2019 – Zion Williamson
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2018 – Deandre Ayton
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2017 – Markelle Fultz
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2016 – Ben Simmons
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2015 – Karl-Anthony Towns
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2014 – Andrew Wiggins
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2013 – Anthony Bennett
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2012 – Anthony Davis
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2011 – Kyrie Irving
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2010 – John Wall
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2009 – Blake Griffin
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2008 – Derrick Rose
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2007 – Greg Oden
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2006 – Andrea Bargnani
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2005 – Andrew Bogut
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2004 – Dwight Howard
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2003 – LeBron James
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2002 – Yao Ming
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2001 – Kwame Brown
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2000 – Kenyon Martin
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
