NBA Draft Lottery: Wizards Secure No. 1 Pick for 2026

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Washington Wizards won the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday and secured the No. 1 overall pick for the first time since selecting John Wall in 2010.

According to the NBA website, Washington entered the lottery with a 14 percent chance of landing the top selection, tied with the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers for the best odds.

The Wizards finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 17-65 record, one of the worst campaigns in franchise history. The team is now expected to add one of the top prospects from what analysts have described as a strong 2026 draft class.

The Utah Jazz secured the No. 2 pick, followed by the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3 and the Chicago Bulls at No. 4. The LA Clippers obtained the fifth selection through a previous trade involving Indiana.

Washington’s lottery victory came after three consecutive losing seasons. Last season, the franchise traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis in an attempt to reshape the roster, while also positioning itself for a high lottery finish.

The outcome has reignited criticism over tanking practices in the NBA after Washington, Utah, and Memphis — three teams widely accused of intentionally weakening their lineups late in the season — ended up with the top three picks.

The New York Times reported that Washington went 3-29 during its final stretch of games after sidelining several key players, while Memphis and Utah also faced scrutiny for fielding weakened rosters as they slipped down the standings.

The report added that the lottery result could strengthen the NBA’s push for anti-tanking reforms. League officials are reportedly considering rules that would prevent teams from winning consecutive lotteries or receiving top-five picks in multiple straight years.

Despite the criticism, several contenders avoided feared lottery scenarios. The Oklahoma City Thunder did not move into the top four through the Clippers’ pick, while the Atlanta Hawks also failed to secure a higher selection despite favorable odds.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings were considered among the lottery’s biggest disappointments after finishing with the sixth and seventh picks despite poor regular-season records.

The New York Times also highlighted growing speculation surrounding the future of Ja Morant in Memphis, suggesting the Grizzlies may consider rebuilding around a new young star from this year’s draft class.

The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled to begin on June 23 in New York City, while the draft combine opens this week in Chicago.

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