NBA Rule Changes for 2026-27: Draft Lottery, NBA Cup, and Referee Updates

NBA changes for the 2026-27 season cover three main areas: a new draft lottery system, a change in venue for the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals, and new points of emphasis for referees. While some introduce changes to existing league policies, others focus on how referees enforce rules on the court.

All dates and times are in Philippine time (PHT).

How does the NBA’s new 3-2-1 Draft Lottery work?

The 3-2-1 Lottery expands the NBA Draft Lottery from 14 to 16 teams and gives more teams a chance at the top pick by adjusting the lottery odds. The system takes effect with the 2027 NBA Draft, which means this season’s final standings will determine the lottery order under the new format.

The system followed meetings between the league office and key stakeholders that began in October 2025. The discussions aimed to address tanking, the practice of losing games to improve a team’s draft position.

Each of the 16 lottery teams receives three, two, or one lottery ball, depending on its final position. With 37 balls in the drawing, each ball represents approximately a 2.7 percent chance of securing the No. 1 pick.

Known as “draft relegation,” this approach gives the three teams with the lowest records an incentive to keep competing and winning late in the season by assigning them fewer lottery balls. These teams can fall no lower than the No. 12 pick, while other lottery teams can fall as far as No. 16.

The new system also introduces restrictions on consecutive high picks and protections on traded selections. A team’s own pick cannot land at No. 1 in consecutive drafts or in the top five in three consecutive drafts, whether the team retains the pick or trades it. Teams also cannot attach top-12 through top-15 protections to newly traded picks. If the league determines that a team is prioritizing draft position over winning, it can reduce the team’s lottery odds, change its draft position, or issue fines.

NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations James Jones said the new system is designed to ensure that “every team is incentivized to play and compete and try to win every game.” The 3-2-1 Lottery will be used for the 2027, 2028, and 2029 NBA Drafts. The Board of Governors will then vote on whether to retain the system beyond 2029.

See how the previous lottery system determined the draft order in our recap of the 2026 NBA Draft.

Emirates NBA Cup semifinals move to team home arenas

For the 2026-27 season, the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals will be played at the home arenas of the higher-seeded teams in each conference. In the tournament’s first three seasons, both the semifinals and the championship game were held at a neutral venue in Las Vegas.

The championship game will remain the tournament’s only neutral-site event. The 2026 Emirates NBA Cup Championship is scheduled for Dec. 12 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of Butler University.

For more details on the tournament format, groupings, and key dates, read our guide on the Emirates NBA Cup 2026.

What are the NBA’s points of emphasis for referees in 2026-27?

Points of emphasis are areas the NBA asks referees to monitor and enforce more closely and consistently during games. Before the season, the NBA released videos explaining each focus area, narrated by Monty McCutchen, Senior Vice President and Head of Referee Development and Training. The league also assigned staff who visited each team to walk players and coaches through the focus areas.

Flopping

A flop is an exaggerated or theatrical movement intended to make officials call a foul. When referees call a flop during a game, the player receives a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul, and the opposing team is awarded one free throw.

The NBA distinguishes flopping from embellishment. Reacting to actual contact, such as snapping the head after an illegal hit, does not automatically constitute a flop. A flop involves creating the impression that contact or a foul occurred when it did not.

Off-arm push-offs

The NBA has seen more offensive players use their off arm to create space from defenders. Using the arm to “firm up” or “feel” for a defender remains legal, but a forceful push or full extension constitutes an offensive foul.

Two-handed screens

An NBA game has more than 200 screens. Referees will watch for screeners who use both hands to push defenders toward midcourt or the sideline, creating an advantage for the ball handler or opening up a passing lane.

Straight-line drives and closeouts

The NBA continues to emphasize players’ right to freedom of movement. A ball handler is entitled to a straight-line path to the basket, and defenders may guard along that path but cannot knock the player off it.

Referees will also monitor reckless closeouts on shooters. A shooter who falls into a seated position to protect themselves during a closeout is not considered to be flopping.

Free-throw lineups

Some players have delayed free-throw lineups by switching positions, giving their benches more time to review a play and decide whether to use a coach’s challenge. Referees are instructed to administer free throws promptly and in an orderly manner. Players must take their positions without unnecessary delay or risk a delay-of-game violation.