Brooklyn Nets Secure Top Odds in 2026 NBA Draft Lottery

With their loss on Friday, the Nets have locked in the best odds for the upcoming draft lottery.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 9:10pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstract basketball game or NBA draft lottery scene, with sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant colors like royal blue, sunset orange, and emerald green, conceptually representing the high-stakes nature of the Nets' draft position.The Nets' lottery odds represent a crucial opportunity to add top talent and accelerate their rebuilding process.Brooklyn Today

The Brooklyn Nets have secured the top odds in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery after a loss on Friday night. With the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings both winning, the Nets have clinched a bottom-three finish in the league standings, giving them a 14% chance at the No. 1 overall pick and a 52.1% chance of landing in the top four. Brooklyn will have their first-round pick as well as a second-round pick swap and the rights to the Atlanta Hawks' second-rounder in the upcoming draft.

Why it matters

The Nets' lottery odds are a significant development as the team looks to rebuild through the draft after a disappointing 2025-26 season. General manager Sean Marks will have a prime opportunity to add top-tier talent to the roster, which could accelerate the team's return to contention in the Eastern Conference.

The details

The Nets currently stand at 20-61 with one game remaining in the regular season. Their final matchup is on the road against the Toronto Raptors, who are still fighting for a playoff spot. While the Nets' rotation is likely to look similar to recent weeks, the Raptors will need a win to secure their postseason berth.

  • The NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 10 and will be broadcast on ESPN.
  • The NBA Draft Combine will take place from May 10 to May 17, following the lottery.
  • The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft will be held on June 24, with the second round following 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 have 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, General Manager, Brooklyn Nets

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

The Nets' lottery odds represent a crucial opportunity for the franchise to add top-tier talent through the draft and accelerate their rebuilding process. With a strong scouting department and significant cap space this offseason, Brooklyn will have multiple avenues to improve the roster and return to contention in the Eastern Conference.