Brooklyn Nets Lock in No. 1 Draft Odds

With the season winding down, the Nets have secured the best lottery odds for the 2026 NBA Draft.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 9:27pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented basketball players and draft lottery imagery, conveying the high-stakes tension of the Nets' pursuit of a top pick.The Brooklyn Nets' lottery luck will be on full display as they await the results that could reshape the franchise's future.Brooklyn Today

The Brooklyn Nets have officially locked in the best odds for the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery after their loss on Friday and wins by the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings. The Nets currently stand at 20-61 with one game left in the season, ensuring they will have a 14% chance at the top pick and a 52.1% chance at a top-4 selection.

Why it matters

This will be the sixth time the Nets have been in the lottery under general manager Sean Marks' direction, providing another opportunity to add young talent to the roster through the draft. With a plethora of decisions to make this offseason, the Nets will look to capitalize on their lottery position to help reshape the team's future.

The details

The Nets cannot land lower than the seventh pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Along with their first-round pick, they also have a second-round pick swap and the rights to the Atlanta Hawks' second-round pick. The lottery is scheduled for May 10 and will be followed by the NBA Draft Combine from May 10-17. The first round of the draft will take place on June 24, with the second round following on June 25.

  • The Nets' final game of the 2025-26 season is on Sunday, April 13 against the Toronto Raptors.
  • The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 10.
  • The 2026 NBA Draft Combine will take place from May 10-17.
  • The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is on June 24.
  • The second round of the 2026 NBA Draft is on June 25.

The players

Sean Marks

The Brooklyn Nets' general manager since 2016, this will be the sixth time the team has been in the lottery under his direction.

Egor Demin

The only rookie taken in the lottery that the Nets retained the rights to under Sean Marks' tenure as general manager.

BJ Johnson

The head of the Nets' amateur scouting department, who Marks credits for the team's preparation ahead of the draft.

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What they’re saying

“I think I'm nervous for where the ping pong balls land and so forth. If you've done your work, if you're prepared, and I give BJ Johnson and the rest of our amateur scouting department a lot of credit.”

— Sean Marks, Brooklyn Nets General Manager

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

With the Nets securing the best lottery odds, this offseason will be crucial for the franchise as they look to capitalize on their draft position and free agency opportunities to reshape the roster and put the team back on a path to contention.