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How does the NBA Draft work? How many rounds are there in the 2022 NBA Draft?

Samir Mehdi
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How does the NBA Draft work? How many rounds are there in the 2022 NBA Draft?

How does the NBA Draft go about and how many rounds of the NBA Draft are there for teams to pick players? 

With the 2022 NBA Draft right around the corner, it’s important to know how the draft works. For several teams across the league that aren’t big markets like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, or Philadelphia, the draft is their way of building a roster organically that could help contend for a championship. 

Teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and even the Boston Celtics (not a small market but built organically) are a perfect example of how to use the NBA Draft to construct a roster. With this year’s 2022 draft having potential franchise guys like Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivey, and Jabari Smith, teams in the top 4 are likely not going to forfeit these picks. 

However, to understand what will happen in tonight’s draft, we must first understand how the draft works.

Also read: Who will Michael Jordan pair LaMelo Ball with?: A look at who the Hornets could pick on 2022 NBA Draft night

How does the NBA Draft work? 

The NBA Draft is divided into 2 rounds. The first round consists of the coveted Draft Lottery that is the first 14 picks of the first round. The lottery was put in place to make sure team didn’t prioritize intentionally losing to get the highest pick of the draft. 

Instead, the lottery provides a chance for teams that had a bad regular season standing the previous season to snag a top pick. With the updated lottery odds, the top 3 picks have the same chance of getting landed on and that is 14%. Coming to the 4th pick that has a 12.5% chance and the 5th pick that has a 10.5% chance.

Also read: “Steph Curry cannot defend, has a frail frame, and bad shot selection”: When scouts got the 2022 NBA Finals MVP completely wrong with their reports prior to 2009 NBA Draft

The rest of the 16 picks of the first round go in order of worst to best regular season standing. So if Team ‘A’ had the best record, they will have the 30th pick, Team ‘B’ had the second-best record, they will have the 29th pick, and so on. 

The second round is much simpler and follow’s the same logic as the last 16 picks of the first round of the NBA Draft. 

The top 3 of the NBA Draft this year are Orlando, OKC, and Houston. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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