The NBA Draft Lottery is held annually at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. For example, the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery took place on May 12, 2025, at this location
. The event is conducted with strict auditing and oversight to ensure fairness, and it determines the order of selection for the first 14 picks in the NBA Draft
. The lottery event is typically broadcast live on ESPN starting at 7 p.m. ET, and it features representatives from the participating teams, NBA officials, and media
. The lottery uses a certified machine and ping-pong balls to randomly select the top picks
. In summary, the NBA Draft Lottery is held in Chicago, specifically at the McCormick Place Convention Center, and is a highly publicized, live event determining the draft order for teams that missed the playoffs
