The annual procedure uses numbered spheres to determine the selection order for teams not qualifying for the playoffs in professional basketball. This event dictates which organizations will have the initial opportunities to acquire promising young talent entering the league. As an example, if a team’s assigned combination of digits is drawn first, that team is awarded the top pick.
The lottery is significant because it allows teams with poorer regular season records a chance to improve their future prospects dramatically by obtaining high draft picks. Historically, it was implemented to discourage deliberate losing (tanking) near the end of seasons, with the hope of securing a better position in the subsequent player selection process. It injects an element of chance and excitement into the offseason, generating considerable media coverage and fan interest.
