How to play NBA roulette
- Choose the pool: all 30 teams, or only the East or the West. Leave No repeat teams on so each team can be used once.
- Press Spin for PG. The team the wheel lands on fills your point guard slot.
- Type a player from that team who can play the position. Past or present is up to your group, but agree on the rule before the first spin.
- Keep spinning for SG, SF, PF and C. You get one reroll per game: tap ↻ on any slot to spin it again.
- Press Copy lineup and paste it into the group chat. Everyone votes on the best five, or you settle it in a video game.
Popular house rules
- Current rosters only: the hardest version, because a spin on a rebuilding team really hurts.
- Any era: any player who ever played for the team. Lakers and Celtics spins become jackpots.
- Draft order: two players alternate spins, and nobody can take a player who is already picked.
- Salary cap: each player’s best-season salary must fit under a total cap you agree on.
- Conference war: one player spins East only and the other West only, then you compare lineups.
Teams on the NBA wheel
The wheel shows each team’s nickname to keep slices readable. These are the 30 teams by division:
| Division | Teams |
|---|---|
| Atlantic | Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors |
| Central | Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks |
| Southeast | Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards |
| Northwest | Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz |
| Pacific | Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings |
| Southwest | Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs |
Fair spins
It also works as a plain NBA wheel spin: each team on the wheel has the same slice and the same chance, 1 in 30 with every team in, 1 in 15 with one conference. With no repeats on, used teams leave the wheel, so later spins pick from fewer teams.
The team is drawn with crypto randomness before the wheel moves, and flicking only changes how it spins. Need a plain random NBA team without the lineup? Press Just pick a team.
How to judge whose lineup wins
- Group vote: everyone pastes their copied lineup in the chat and votes for the best five. You can’t vote for your own.
- Stat check: add up each player’s points per game from the season you’re using. The highest total wins.
- Simulate it: build both lineups in NBA 2K or another basketball game and play it out.
- Position test: a lineup with a real point guard and a real center usually beats five scorers, so judges should check the fit as well as the names.
Questions people ask
What is NBA roulette?
A basketball game where a wheel picks a random NBA team for each lineup spot and you name a player from that team. The best starting five wins the argument.
Can I spin for just one random NBA team?
Yes. Press “Just pick a team” for a single random team without filling a lineup slot.
How many rerolls do I get?
One per game. Tap the ↻ button on any filled slot to spin that position again. Start over to get your reroll back.
Does the game save my lineup?
Yes. Your lineup, filters and reroll are saved in this browser, so you can come back to an unfinished game.
Can I play NBA roulette with friends online?
Yes. Each player spins on their own device, presses Copy lineup and pastes it into the group chat, so everyone can compare starting fives.
Updated by the SpinnWheel team