The 2026 NBA draft lottery is underway in Chicago, where teams are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the top pick. The Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards each hold a 14% chance of winning the coveted first overall selection. The Wizards, who concluded the season with the league's worst record of 17-65, face a daunting history, as no team with the worst record has secured the top pick since the league adopted its current lottery system before the 2018-19 season. In fact, the last three teams to finish at the bottom ended up with the fifth overall pick. Notably, the Dallas Mavericks made a remarkable leap last season, moving up 10 spots to select Cooper Flagg, while the Atlanta Hawks jumped nine spots the previous year to pick Zaccharie Risacher. This lottery may be the last under the current structure, as reports indicate that the NBA plans to introduce a new anti-tanking draft reform called the '3-2-1 lottery' starting with the 2027 draft, which would expand the lottery to 16 teams and alter the odds for the bottom three teams. Fans and teams alike are keenly watching to see who will emerge victorious from this year's lottery.