Patrick Hauser
At the first draft of NBA history, the New York Knicks get the first pick. Wild rumors and conspiracy theories arise for the lottery.
On May 12th, one of the most bizarre processes in American sports history marks. In 1985 the NBA carried out its first Draft Lottery, previously the teams of the teams were assigned to the coin toss. Exactly 39 years ago, seven teams had a chance of 14 percent on pick number one. And everyone only wanted one man: Patrick Ewing. The circumstances of his change to the NBA should become the greatest conspiracy theory in US sports a little later.
Knicks get top pick ewing
But one thing in turn: in 1985 every team that had missed the playoffs – at that time there were seven – was given the same opportunity on the coveted first train. Envelopes with the name of the franchise were thrown into a lottery drum, from which the winners of the respective pick were pulled one after the other.
Center Patrick Ewing was considered a century talent after his college career in Georgetown, which would change the future of his new team for a long time. The Draft Lottery won the New York Knicks, they also promptly decided on Ewing.
Patrick Ewing pats his alien alter ego from “Space Jam”
Immediately after the draft, however, rumors made the round that the lottery was not legal and decided by fraud. The greatest conspiracy theory in US sports history was quickly born: the so-called “Frozen Envelope”.
The New York Times wrote before the Draft: “There is a firm conviction between officials in the league and marketing bosses of the TV stations that the NBA would benefit the most if Ewing played in a kink jersey.”
New York as an attractive partner
As now, New York was the largest TV market in the league, and the Knicks home Madison Square Garden was usually not even half filled at that time and the league’s TV contract went out.
The then general manager of the Atlanta Hawks, Stan Kasten, summarized a conversation, which took place months before the draft: “I sat with some people from the NBA and I remember that a high -ranking team boss that I do not call, said: ‘I am a million percent convinced that I know what will happen. To the Knicks, everything is discussed. ‘ I didn’t believe him at the time. “
Even then, David Stern led the league as a commissioner, and only in 2014 he gave up his post. Stern decided quite surprisingly to show the draft on TV, but it was broadcast on a working day at 2 p.m. at the USA – and could hardly provide large odds.
Knicks envelope with kink
The seven A4-sized envelopes were placed in a large glass ball, which was then shot five times by the NBA security chief Jack Joyce.
Star grip in – and after a short rummage, pulled out the envelope of the kinks. As it later turned out, this had a kink on a corner. Rumors about a frozen envelope ( Frozen Envelope ) or X -ray glasses also circulated.
Afterwards, Stern gave a strange statement about the draft: “The interest was great. People talk about the lottery instead of taking drugs or doing something else negative.”
The Draft Lottery already provided many conspiracy theory
The next day it came out that Jack Wagner, who threw the envelopes into the lottery drum, worked for the Ernst & Whinney company – who was then owner of the Knicks. The President of the Madison Square Garden Jack Krumpe said: “I said 60 days ago how to manipulate. Call Ernst & Whinney and say: ‘If we don’t get Ewing, you are fired.'”
Over 1000 combinations possible
Documentation was shot about the conspiracy theory over the years and books were written. Despite the controversial discussions, Stern kept his job and established the lottery as an annual event to determine the draft order.
Fraud is no longer possible, with a total of 14 balls in the lottery drum, over 1000 combinations are possible to determine the draft order.