The Brooklyn Nets ended the 2025-26 NBA season with the third-worst record in the league (20-62) so it makes sense that they would be looking forward to the 2026 NBA Draft in June. Brooklyn has nothing to worry about this year given that the NBA’s proposal to curb tanking could be in effect as soon as next season, but what would the anti-tanking measures look like this season?
The X account APHoops put together a post showing what the odds would look like for each team in the Lottery this year if the NBA’s proposal anti-tanking rule was implemented for 2026. As a reminder, the anti-tanking rule that the NBA is expected to put to a vote is expanding the Lottery from 14 to 16 teams where the teams with the fourth-worst to 10th-worst records have three Lottery balls while the three-worst teams in the league have the same amount of Lottery balls (2) as the teams with the 11th-worst to 16th-worst records.
With the Nets having the third-worst record in the Association this season, that means that they would have the same odds as the Golden State Warriors, for example, who lost in the play-in tournament. One of the aspects of the proposal measure, assuming that it remains in effect once the league’s governors meet next month, is that the three-worst teams in the league can’t finish worse than the 12th pick.
In summary, the Nets are lucky that the proposed measure gaining steam would be put in action next year as they are hoping for some Lottery luck this time around given the draft class. With the prospect of Brooklyn being able to select BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, or Duke forward Cameron Boozer, the Nets have to thank their lucky stars.
What this measure means is that the Nets may not have to be as concerned about their pick that they owe to the Houston Rockets given that the new measure would change how the picks are awarded. Either way, if Brooklyn ends up trying to compete for a playoff spot next season, this measure won’t change much, but it’s interesting to see a visual of how the odds would look.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: What would the Nets’ 2026 NBA Draft look like with anti-tanking rule?
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
