The 2024 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled to take place in Chicago on Sunday, May 12, and will be broadcast live at 15:00 ET on ABC. This big NBA event will decide the fate of the 14 teams that did not qualify for the NBA Playoffs, as they vie for the top spots in the upcoming NBA Draft.
The lottery sets the stage for the first 14 selections of the NBA Draft. The draw will determine the assignment of the top four picks, with the subsequent ten teams positioned based on their regular-season records from least to most wins.
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How does the NBA Draft Lottery work?
According to the NBA, critical procedure occurs behind closed doors, witnessed by a select group of media members, NBA officials, team representatives, and auditors from Ernst & Young.
The mechanics of the draw involve 14 numbered ping-pong balls and a lottery machine, supplied by Smart Play Company-a leading provider of lottery machines across the U.S. Smart Play also ensures the accuracy of the balls used in the draw.
During the lottery, all 14 balls are placed in the machine, mixed for 20 seconds, and then the first ball is drawn. This process is repeated, with shorter mixing intervals, until four balls are drawn.
The team assigned the corresponding four-ball combination wins the No.1 draft pick. This process is repeated for the next three picks. If a duplicate or unassigned combination is drawn, it is discarded, and a new combination is drawn.
Who will announce the results?
The entire process is meticulously overseen by Ernst & Young representatives, who also prepare and seal the envelopes that hold the results, which are then delivered to the broadcast studio.
NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum will announce the results live. On stage, representatives from each lottery team will be present, but like the viewers at home, they will not know the results until the envelopes are opened.
This year’s draft lottery promises to be a thrilling prelude to the NBA Draft, scheduled for June 26-27, 2024, setting the stage for the future trajectories of the participating teams and their young talents.
