Former NBA player and three-time champion Danny Green recently shared an interesting strategy for deciding the NBA Draft’s lottery picks. In conversation with the panel of ‘Playoff Central”, Green shared his thoughts on the method of selecting the teams that secure the top pick in the draft.
“I think it would be more interesting to see the team’s play for the top spot,” said Green. “Make ’em care.”
“Kind of during the Play-In time. It would be a good, fun-fought battle between the lower-seeded teams,” he added.
Green continued by criticizing the current systems of the lottery: “The ping pong balls, people are starting not to believe in that.”
While talking about the mildly suspect nature of the current system and the agenda of sending certain players to certain cities, Green very clearly stated: “I want to see the teams fight it out.”
Danny Green mentions that he thinks the worst teams in the NBA should play each other for the top 5 picks in the draft.
“The ping-pong balls people are starting not to believe in that. I want to see teams fight it out.” pic.twitter.com/6b8fVQBDxB
— NetsKingdom 👑🗽 (@NetsKingdomAJ) April 22, 2025
The NBA Draft has had a lottery system for almost 40 years, dating back to its inception in 1985. Before the lottery system, teams would flip a coin for the No. 1 pick in the draft. This was changed due to several teams opting to tank.
The lottery system gives teams with a worse record a better chance of securing a top-four pick in the draft. While this doesn’t necessarily guarantee it, it certainly does create provisions for a franchise to draft a talented player who can change the course of their future.
Unfortunately, the current state of the lottery system has failed to change the nature of tanking. Several teams continue to tank to secure a lower seed, hence ensuring better odds of drawing a top-four pick.
A recent example of this is when the San Antonio Spurs managed to have the third-worst record in the league, but still came away with the top pick in the draft in 2023. This resulted in them recruiting a generational talent in Victor Wembanyama.
Given the nature of the lottery pick process, it is evident that there is some degree of viewer saturation. Considering that there are concerns regarding viewership and the league has already presented different strategies to improve ratings, the NBA may be better served by taking a novel approach to such an event, too.
As things stand, the Utah Jazz, the Washington Wizards, and the Charlotte Hornets boast the best odds of securing the No. 1 overall pick.
Teams will certainly be vying for the top spot in next year’s draft. With the likes of Duke’s Cooper Flagg headlining the draft, there is no shortage of talented players who can alter the fate of a franchise amongst the potential top picks.
