Warriors Await NBA Draft Lottery Fate After Play-In Exit

Golden State faces long odds but recent history shows anything can happen in the lottery.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:39pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball court and players, using bold, overlapping shapes and vibrant colors to capture the dynamic energy of the game.The Warriors' lottery position adds an element of unpredictability to their offseason plans as they look to reshape the roster around their veteran core.Chicago Today

The Golden State Warriors saw their season come to an end after falling to the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Play-In Tournament. With the loss, the Warriors now shift their focus to the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, where they hold the 11th-worst record and long odds to land a top pick.

Why it matters

The Warriors' lottery position will be a key factor in their offseason roster decisions, as they look to build around veteran stars like Stephen Curry and address needs highlighted by their early playoff exit.

The details

By virtue of finishing with the 11th-worst record, the Warriors enter the lottery with a 2.0% chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick, along with a 2.2% probability at No. 2 and 2.4% odds for the No. 3 pick. Their chances of jumping into the top four sit at 2.8%. The most likely outcome is remaining at No. 11, which carries a 77.6% probability.

  • The NBA Draft Lottery will take place on May 10, 2026.
  • The NBA Draft Combine will follow from May 10-17 in Chicago.
  • The 2026 NBA Draft will be held June 23 and 24.

The players

Jalen Green

The Phoenix Suns guard scored 36 points in the team's win over the Warriors.

Devin Booker

The Phoenix Suns star added 20 points as the team secured the No. 8 seed.

Kristaps Porzingis

The Warriors forward played through right ankle soreness, logging 11 points in limited minutes.

Stephen Curry

The Warriors' veteran star was limited to 17 points on 4-of-16 shooting in the loss.

Brandin Podziemski

The Warriors' leading scorer in the game with 23 points.

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What’s next

The Warriors must now weigh their options carefully ahead of the draft, whether they stay at No. 11 or get lucky with a jump in the lottery. The draft presents an opportunity to reshape the roster around Curry and the team's veteran core.

The takeaway

The Warriors' lottery position highlights the uncertainty they face this offseason, as they look to build a contender around their veteran stars and address the needs exposed by their early playoff exit.