NBA draft lottery
Definition
An annual event in the National Basketball Association (NBA) where the draft order for the top four picks is determined by a weighted lottery among non-playoff teams, giving worse-performing teams higher odds of landing the No. 1 selection.
A system designed to promote competitive balance by discouraging intentional tanking while still rewarding struggling franchises with a shot at elite young talent.
Examples
The Pistons, after a 14-win season, treated the NBA draft lottery like their one shot at redemption, only to bubble-wrap their hopes again.
Knicks fans refresh lottery odds like addicts at a slot machine, dreaming their franchise's curse might finally jackpot.
The NBA draft lottery turns tanking into a glamorous gamble, where missing playoffs feels like buying a Powerball ticket.
When the Wizards landed the top pick in the NBA draft lottery, it was the first time their luck didn't foul out early.