League Chat Box

Dennis Rodman dominates the boards in Jazz blowout over Clippers

Rodman pulled down 9 defensive rebounds and added 6 offensive boards in the 109-81 victory for the Jazz | Box

Chris Mullin's 38 points help Magic escape past Knicks

Mullin dropped 38 points on 15 of 22 shooting from the field. Orlando beat New York, 109-108 | Box

Pacers fail to keep Horace Grant off the boards, but still hold on for win over Suns

Grant pulled down 10 defensive rebounds and 9 offensive rebounds in a losing effort. | Box

John Stockton dishes out dimes in Lakers blowout over Raptors

Stockton recorded 15 assists in the 136-84 victory for the Lakers | Box

Celtics fail to stop Mark Jackson from setting up his team, but still hold on for win over Bucks

Jackson tallied 12 assists in a losing effort. | Box

Lead Story - 1/10/2026

1987X: "NBA, I Love This Game" Draft Order

Round 1
1. Atlanta Hawks (11 Balls) +1
2. Philadelphia 76ers (10 Balls) +1
3. Indiana Pacers (12 Balls) -2
4. Denver Nuggets (9 Balls) Even
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (8 Balls) Even
6. Golden State Warriors (7 Balls) Even
7. Phoenix Suns (6 Balls) Even
8. Milwaukee Bucks (5 Balls) Even
9. Boston Celtics (4 Balls) Even - Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Dallas Mavericks (3 Balls) Even
11. San Antonio Spurs (2 Balls) Even
12. Houston Rockets (1 Ball) Even
13. Toronto Raptors (41-41)
14. New York Knicks (41-41)
15. Seattle Supersonics (44-38)
16. Portland Trail Blazers (45-37)
17. Orlando Magic (46-36)
18. Miami Heat (47-35)
19. Los Angeles Clippers (47-35)
20. Utah Jazz (50-32)
21. New Jersey Nets (63-19)
22. Kansas City-Omaha Kings (66-16)
23. Los Angeles Lakers (70-12) – Traded to Indiana Pacers
24. Charlotte Hornets (75-7)

Round 2
1. Indiana Pacers (11-71)
2. Atlanta Hawks (15-67)
3. Philadelphia 76ers (16-66)
4. Denver Nuggets (20-62)
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (29-53)
6. Golden State Warriors (30-52)
7. Phoenix Suns (33-49)
8. Milwaukee Bucks (34-48)
9. Boston Celtics (37-45)
10. Dallas Mavericks (37-45)
11. Toronto Raptors (41-41)
12. New York Knicks (41-41)
13. San Antonio Spurs (43-39)
14. Houston Rockets (44-38)
15. Seattle Supersonics (44-38)
16. Portland Trail Blazers (45-37)
17. Orlando Magic (46-36)
18. Miami Heat (47-35)
19. Los Angeles Clippers (47-35)
20. Utah Jazz (50-32)
21. New Jersey Nets (63-19)
22. Kansas City-Omaha Kings (66-16)
23. Los Angeles Lakers (70-12) – Traded to Indiana Pacers
24. Charlotte Hornets (75-7)

1/7/2026

1988X: "NBA, I Love This Game" Draft Lottery Results

The Draft Lottery determines the order of selection for the first three teams only or the teams who originally held the rights if they were traded. The remaining non-playoff teams are selected in inverse order of the win–loss record for the remaining teams, or the teams who originally held the rights if they were traded. Therefore, the team with the worst record in the league is assured of a selection no worse than fourth, the team with the second worst record no worse than fifth and so on.

1. Atlanta Hawks (11 Balls) +1
2. Philadelphia 76ers (10 Balls) +1
3. Indiana Pacers (12 Balls) -2
4. Denver Nuggets (9 Balls) Even
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (8 Balls) Even
6. Golden State Warriors (7 Balls) Even
7. Phoenix Suns (6 Balls) Even
8. Milwaukee Bucks (5 Balls) Even
9. Boston Celtics (4 Balls) Even - Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Dallas Mavericks (3 Balls) Even
11. San Antonio Spurs (2 Balls) Even
12. Houston Rockets (1 Ball) Even

1988X: "NBA, I Love This Game" Draft Lottery Results

1/5/2026

1988X: "NBA, I Love This Game" Playoffs

Simulation Times (Pacific Standard Time)
6 AM – Games 1 & 2
9 AM – Games 3 & 4
12 PM – Games 5 (If Necessary)
2 PM – Games 6 (If Necessary)
4 PM – Games 7 (If Necessary)

Playoff Schedule
Wednesday January 7th - First Round
Thursday January 8th - Conference Semifinals
Friday January 9th - Conference Finals
Saturday January 10th – 1988X "NBA, I Love This Game" Championship

First Round
(Best-of-7 in the 2-3-2 format)
* (Division Winner)
# (Set by Tie Breaker Rules)

Eastern Conference
(1) *Charlotte Hornets (Bye – Central Division Champion)
(2) *New Jersey Nets (Bye – Atlantic Division Champion)
(3) Miami Heat vs. (6) #Toronto Raptors (Raptors advance 4-3)
(4) Orlando Magic vs. (5) #New York Knicks (Magic advance 4-0)

Western Conference
(1) *Los Angeles Lakers (Bye – Pacific Division Champion)
(2) *Kansas City-Omaha Kings (Bye – Midwest Division Champion)
(3) Utah Jazz vs. (6) #Seattle SuperSonics (Jazz advance 4-2)
(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers (Clippers advance 4-2)

Conference Semifinals
(Best-of-7 in the 2-3-2 format)
* (Division Winner)

Eastern Conference
(1) *Charlotte Hornets vs. (4) Orlando Magic (Magic advance 4-2)
(2) *New Jersey Nets vs. (6) #Toronto Raptors (Nets advance 4-1)

Western Conference
(1) *Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Los Angeles Clippers (Lakers advance 4-0)
(2) *Kansas City-Omaha Kings vs. (3) Utah Jazz (Kings advance 4-1)

Conference Finals
(Best-of-7 in the 2-3-2 format)
* (Division Winner)

Eastern Conference
(2) *New Jersey Nets vs. (4) Orlando Magic (Magic advance 4-3)

Western Conference
(1) *Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) *Kansas City-Omaha Kings (Kings advance 4-3)

1988X: "NBA, I Love This Game" Championship
(Best-of-7 in the 2-3-2 format)
* (Division Winner)

(W2) *Kansas City-Omaha Kings vs. (E4) Orlando Magic (Kings take Championship 4-1)

1988X: "NBA, I Love This Game" Championship – Kansas City-Omaha Kings

1/5/2026

1988X: "NBA, I Love This Game" Regular Season Standings

1. *Charlotte Hornets (75-7) E1 – Central Division Champion
2. *Los Angeles Lakers (70-12) W1 – Pacific Division Champion
3. *Kansas City-Omaha Kings (66-16) W2 – Midwest Division, Western Conference, & World Champions
4. *New Jersey Nets (63-19) E2 – Atlantic Division Champion
5. Utah Jazz (50-32) W3
6. #Los Angeles Clippers (47-35) W4
7. #Miami Heat (47-35) E3
8. Orlando Magic (46-36) E4 - Eastern Conference Champion
9. Portland Trail Blazers (45-37) W5
10. #Seattle Supersonics (44-38) W6
11. #Houston Rockets (44-38) 1 Lottery Ball (1.3%)
12. San Antonio Spurs (43-39) 2 Lottery Balls (2.6%)
13. #New York Knicks (41-41) E5
14. #Toronto Raptors (41-41) E6
15. #Dallas Mavericks (37-45) 3 Lottery Balls (3.8%)
16. #Boston Celtics (37-45) 4 Lottery Balls (5.1%)
17. Milwaukee Bucks (34-48) 5 Lottery Balls (6.4%)
18. Phoenix Suns (33-49) 6 Lottery Balls (7.7%)
19. Golden State Warriors (30-52) 7 Lottery Balls (9.0%)
20. Cleveland Cavaliers (29-53) 8 Lottery Balls (10.3%)
21. Denver Nuggets (20-62) 9 Lottery Balls (11.5%)
22. Philadelphia 76ers (16-66) 10 Lottery Balls (12.8%)
23. Atlanta Hawks (15-67) 11 Lottery Balls (14.1%)
24. Indiana Pacers (11-71) 12 Lottery Balls (15.4%)

* (Division Winner)
# (Set by Tie Breaker Rules)

Tie Breakers:
#Los Angeles Clippers (2-1) over #Miami Heat (1-2) H2H
#Seattle SuperSonics (2-1) over #Houston Rockets (1-2) H2H
#New York Knicks (2-1) over #Toronto Raptors (1-2) H2H
#Dallas Mavericks (4-0) over #Boston Celtics (0-4) H2H

12/28/2025

1988X: "NBA, I Love This Game" All-Star Game

The East defeated the West 125–97 with Magic Johnson of the New York Knicks taking home the Most Valuable Player Award. Magic had 15 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds. Charles Barkley of the Milwaukee Bucks followed up with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocked shots.

Mark Aguirre of the San Antonio Spurs led the West with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocked shots, and 2 steals. Clyde Drexler of the Kansas City-Omaha Kings contributed 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in a losing effort.

1988X: “NBA, I Love This Game” All-Star Game

11/26/2025

1988X: "NBA, I Love This Game" Traded Draft Picks

1985
No traded Picks

1986
Phoenix Suns take Seattle Supersonics 1986 1st Round Pick (Malone/Short)
Houston Rockets take Boston Celtics 1986 1st Round Pick (Turpin/Stipanovich)
Indiana Pacers take Portland Trail Blazers 1986 1st Round Pick (86/87 1st Round Swap)

1987
Phoenix Suns take Seattle Supersonics 1987 1st Round Pick (Malone/Short)
Portland Trail Blazers take Indiana Pacers 1987 1st Round Pick (86/87 1st Round Swap)

1988
Indiana Pacers take Los Angeles Lakers 1988 1st Round Pick (Williams/Brickowski)
Indiana Pacers take Los Angeles Lakers 1988 2nd Round Pick (Williams/Brickowski)
Cleveland Cavaliers take Boston Celtics 1988 1st Round Pick (Tripucka/McHale)

1989
Indiana Pacers take Los Angeles Lakers 1989 1st Round Pick (Williams/Brickowski)
Indiana Pacers take Los Angeles Lakers 1989 2nd Round Pick (Williams/Brickowski)
Cleveland Cavaliers take Boston Celtics 1989 1st Round Pick (Tripucka/McHale)
Seattle SuperSonics take Houston Rockets 1989 1st Round Pick (Parish/Kerr)

1990
Cleveland Cavaliers take Boston Celtics 1990 1st Round Pick (Sichting/Whittman)
Seattle SuperSonics take Houston Rockets 1990 1st Round Pick (Parish/Kerr)

9/1/2025

1988X: "NBA, I Love This Game" Awards

MVP – Michael Jordan (Charlotte Hornets)
Defensive POY – Michael Jordan (Charlotte Hornets)
6th Man – Danny Ainge (Boston Celtics)
Rookie of the Year – Mark Jackson (Milwaukee Bucks)
All-Star MVP – Magic Johnson (New York Knicks)
Finals MVP – Clyde Drexler (Kansas City-Omaha Kings)

ALL-NBA Team (MVP Points)
PG John Stockton (Los Angeles Lakers)
SG Michael Jordan (Charlotte Hornets)
SF Larry Bird (Atlanta Hawks)
PF Charles Barkley (Milwaukee Bucks)
C Patrick Ewing (Los Angeles Lakers)

ALL-Defensive Team (DOY Points)
PG John Stockton (Los Angeles Lakers)
SG Michael Jordan (Charlotte Hornets)
SF Thurl Bailey (Charlotte Hornets)
PF Karl Malone (Houston Rockets)
C Hakeem Olajuwon (Miami Heat)

ALL – Rookie Team
PG Mark Jackson (Milwaukee Bucks)
SG Reggie Miller (Los Angeles Lakers)
SF Derrick McKey (Cleveland Cavaliers)
PF Armen Gilliam (Orlando Magic)
C Petur Gudmundsson (Milwaukee Bucks)

Division Winners
Atlantic Division Champs – New Jersey Nets
Central Division Champs – Charlotte Hornets
Midwest Division Champs – Kansas City – Omaha Kings
Pacific Division Champs – Los Angeles Lakers

Conference Winners
Eastern Conference Champs – Orlando Magic
Western Conference Champs – Kansas City – Omaha Kings

1988X: “NBA, I Love This Game” Champions – Kansas City – Omaha Kings

Potholes League History

8/9/2025

NBA Draft Lottery History

What is the history of the NBA Draft Lottery and when was it first used?

— 1966-1984: From 1966 through 1984, the NBA team that finished with the worst record in each conference participated in a coin flip. The team that won the coin flip received the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. That team that lost the coin flip received the No. 2 overall pick. The remaining teams picked in inverse order of their regular-season records.

— June 1984: The NBA Board of Governors voted to adopt a lottery system among the non-playoff teams (or the teams holding their picks through trades) to determine their order of selection in the first round of the NBA Draft, beginning in 1985. Teams would pick in inverse order of their regular-season records in the second round (or, before the draft was reduced to two rounds in 1989, in all succeeding rounds).

— April 1986: Under a procedural change adopted by the Board of Governors, the lottery would determine the order of selection for the first three teams only. The remaining non-playoff teams would select in inverse order of their regular-season records. Therefore, the team with the worst record would be assured of picking no worse than fourth, the team with the second-worst record no worse than fifth and so on.

— October 1989: The NBA Board of Governors adopted a weighted system, beginning with the 1990 NBA Draft Lottery, which included 11 teams due to expansion (Charlotte and Miami joined the NBA for the 1988-89 season and Minnesota and Orlando followed in 1989-90). The team with the worst regular-season record received 11 chances at the top pick (out of a total of 66), the second-worst team got 10 chances and the team with the best record among the non-playoff teams was given one chance.

— November 1993: The NBA Board of Governors approved a modification that, effective with the 1994 NBA Draft Lottery, increased the chances of the teams with the worst records to win one of the top three picks while decreasing the chances of the teams with the best records. The new system increased the chances of the team with the worst record of drawing the first pick from 16.7 percent to 25 percent, and it decreased the chances of the team with the best record among lottery teams from 1.5 percent to 0.5 percent.

— October 1995: The NBA Board of Governors increased the number of teams participating in the lottery from 11 to 13 to account for the addition of expansion teams Toronto and Vancouver. Starting in 1996, the team with the worst record would continue to have a 25 percent chance of winning the first pick. Teams two through six would have slightly fewer chances, team seven would have the same chances and teams eight through 12 would have slightly more chances. The number of chances for team 13 did not change.

— 2004: The 2004 NBA Draft Lottery increased to 14 teams with the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats. However, as part of their expansion agreement, the Bobcats were locked into the fourth position in the 2004 NBA Draft and therefore did not have a chance to receive other picks in the lottery.

— September 2017: The NBA Board of Governors approved changes to the lottery system effective with the 2019 NBA Draft, reducing the odds so that the teams with the three worst records would share the same chance (14 percent) of receiving the No. 1 overall draft pick. The odds for the remaining participants in the 14-team lottery would be reduced gradually after the top three. Drawings would be conducted for the first four picks of the NBA Draft. The other lottery teams would continue to pick in inverse order of their regular-season record.

> What is the all-time list of winning lottery teams?
Year | Team with No. 1 Pick | Winning Odds | Player Taken

2024: Atlanta Hawks | 3.00% | Zaccharie Risacher
2023: San Antonio Spurs | 14.00% | Victor Wembanyama
2022: Orlando Magic | 14.00% | Paolo Banchero
2021: Detroit Pistons | 14.00% | Cade Cunningham
2020: Minnesota Timberwolves | 14.00% | Anthony Edwards
2019: New Orleans Pelicans | 6.00% | Zion Williamson
2018: Phoenix Suns | 25.00% | Deandre Ayton
2017: Boston Celtics | 25.00% | Markelle Fultz
2016: Philadelphia Sixers | 25.00% | Ben Simmons
2015: Minnesota Timberwolves | 25.00% | Karl-Anthony Towns
2014: Cleveland Cavaliers | 1.70% | Andrew Wiggins
2013: Cleveland Cavaliers | 15.60% | Anthony Bennett
2012: New Orleans Hornets | 13.70% | Anthony Davis
2011: Cleveland Cavaliers | 2.80% | Kyrie Irving
2010: Washington Wizards | 10.30% | John Wall
2009: Los Angeles Clippers | 17.70% | Blake Griffin
2008: Chicago Bulls | 1.70% | Derrick Rose
2007: Portland Trail Blazers | 5.30% | Greg Oden
2006: Toronto Raptors | 8.80% | Andrea Bargnani
2005: Milwaukee Bucks | 6.30% | Andrew Bogut
2004: Orlando Magic | 25.00% | Dwight Howard
2003: Cleveland Cavaliers | 22.50% | LeBron James
2002: Houston Rockets | 8.90% | Yao Ming
2001: Washington Wizards | 15.70% | Kwame Brown
2000: New Jersey Nets | 4.40% | Kenyon Martin
1999: Chicago Bulls | 15.70% | Elton Brand
1998: Los Angeles Clippers | 22.56% | Michael Olowokandi
1997: San Antonio Spurs | 21.60% | Tim Duncan
1996: Philadelphia Sixers | 33.73% | Allen Iverson
1995: Golden State Warriors | 9.40% | Joe Smith
1994: Milwaukee Bucks | 16.30% | Glenn Robinson
1993: Orlando Magic | 1.52% | Chris Webber
1992: Orlando Magic | 15.15% | Shaquille O’Neal
1991: Charlotte Hornets | 10.61% | Larry Johnson
1990: New Jersey Nets | 16.67% | Derrick Coleman
1989: Sacramento Kings | 11.11% | Pervis Ellison
1988: Los Angeles Clippers | 14.29% | Danny Manning
1987: San Antonio Spurs | 14.29% | David Robinson
1986: Cleveland Cavaliers | 14.29% | Brad Daugherty
1985: New York Knicks | 14.29% | Patrick Ewing

7/12/2025

Reboot Teams

Atlantic Division
1. Miami Heat - mav54
2. New York Knicks - Ekspress
3. Orlando Magic - dgtedford
4. Boston Celtics - snowman33
5. Philadelphia 76ers - thecraftyone
6. New Jersey Nets – gbacci

Central Division
1. Milwaukee Bucks - Faker_012
2. Charlotte Hornets - Mitch44
3. Toronto Raptors - DonaldAssman
4. Indiana Pacers - dalbpho8
5. Atlanta Hawks – biggmoose
6. Cleveland Cavaliers - joshbonds25

Midwest Division
1. Utah Jazz - joeyrex
2. Denver Nuggets - potholes
3. Kansas City Kings - twolvesfan
4. Houston Rockets - bhicks42
5. San Antonio Spurs - bosox13
6. Dallas Mavericks - Vacant

Pacific Division
1. Los Angeles Clippers - scottcornelius
2. Phoenix Suns - jons_lover
3. Los Angeles Lakers - leej
4. Golden State Warriors - hinux
5. Seattle Supersonics - Vacant
6. Portland Trail Blazers – bobknightrules

Non-Reboot Teams
1. Washington Wizards (Atlantic)
2. Detroit Pistons (Central)
3. Chicago Bulls (Central)
4. Vancouver Grizzlies (Midwest)
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (Pacific)