Memorable NBA draft lottery team representatives

The NBA Draft Lottery can be a pivotal turning point in a franchise’s history, and certain teams try to swing good fortune in their favor. Organizations have gotten creative with regards to who they send to represent them at the lottery, in hopes that individual will help secure the number one overall pick.

He might be the most famous draft representative of all time, thanks to his story and success at the event. Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert sent his son Nick to the lottery on multiple occasions, and the team got the number one pick a few times with this system. Unfortunately, Nick battled neurofibromatosis, and passed away at the age of 26 in 2023.

He’s one of the shining figures of a championship era long since removed for New York Knicks fans. The franchise has sent Clyde Frazier to the draft on multiple occasions. While his presence has not always netted the team a favorable pick, his renowned sense of style makes his appearance one to look forward to for NBA fans.

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most recognizable brands in sports, and they haven’t had too many prolonged stretches of futility in their past. However, the transition from the Kobe Bryant years back into respectability took a few seasons, and Magic Johnson sat at the Lakers podium for that rebuilding stretch.

The San Antonio Spurs have had some of the best fortune in draft lottery history, nailing their selections when they’ve had the chance to pick first overall. They took David Robinson first in 1987, and Tim Duncan first in 1997. Robinson has represented the franchise in lotteries since then, hoping to bring them more luck.

The Detroit Pistons are bringing back legend Ben Wallace for the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, in hopes that he can help the team secure Victor Wembanyama, who figures to be selected first this year. Wallace was a rugged rebounder and tough defender for Detroit during their impressive run in the 2000’s.

The very first NBA lottery was held in 1985, and many fans remember it as the season the New York Knicks got the top pick. They would go on to select Patrick Ewing, but many people don’t remember who was present for New York that night to shake commissioner David Stern’s hand. It was former player Dave DeBusschere, who worked in the front office at that time.

It’s hard to picture a face that is synonymous with winning at an event that highlights the teams that did poorly in the previous season. Although it may be hard to believe, Red Auerbach showed up to a couple of NBA Draft lotteries, hoping to give the Boston Celtics some good fortune. Boston was also in the lottery thanks to some savvy trades.

Moderators at the draft lottery always seemed to like to chat with Larry Bird before the proceedings got underway. Bird appeared at the lottery to give the Celtics a vibe boost, but later attended as a member of the front office for the Indiana Pacers. He would give some memorable quotes during these short interviews.

The Philadelphia 76ers had a zany owner in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s named Pat Croce. He was the type of person who wore his emotions on his sleeve, and that passion was evident during the 1996 draft lottery. The event is normally a pretty buttoned up affair, but Croce was not afraid to show his excitement.

He’s known as one of the premier coaches in basketball history, but Don Nelson was also at many draft lotteries during the course of his time in the NBA. When the camera panned to Nelson in various years, he would give two thumbs up as an affirmation that he felt the ping pong balls were going to bounce his way.

Unfortunately for Los Angeles Clippers fans, their franchise and the draft lottery have gone hand in hand for the better part of several decades. Elgin Baylor would make his annual trip to Secaucus, New Jersey, which is where the lottery was held for many years. He would maintain a stoic demeanor during each visit.

It felt like the Toronto Raptors were building towards something special in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, as Vince Carter was on the precipice of leading them to new heights. Carter represented the team on multiple occasions, and would bring a maple leaf to the event in hopes of shifting the odds.

The 1990’s Chicago Bulls were a dynasty that is revered in the annals of NBA history, but the franchise had to pick up the pieces after Michael Jordan retired. General manager Jerry Krause hoped to get back into relevancy in short order, and was ecstatic when the team secured the number one pick in the 1999 NBA Draft lottery.

Always one of the more classy players, Allan Houston was as respectable a representative as there’s been in lottery history. Even as the Knicks franchise floundered, Houston’s presence was a reminder of the good times. Houston would where commemorative memorabilia to the lottery, such as a Dave DeBusschere pin.

For his innate sense of finding talent in untapped places, Jerry West is known as one of the greatest executives in league history. This is in addition to the stellar resume he put together as a player. West didn’t always need the highest draft capital to improve his team, but was always a fun person to talk to when he showed up.

Even though showing up to the draft lottery multiple times can be considered an undesirable thing, Pat Williams’ fortune made it a pleasant experience. When he was with the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic, Williams’ presence was memorable considering each franchise landed the first overall pick under his stewardship.

For fans of basketball history, it’s really cool to see players of different eras appear at the draft lottery. For example, the Atlanta Hawks tabbed Dominique Wilkins as their representative, and he would once again appear in the same venue as rivals from the 1980’s. It serves as a bone for fans of a franchise going through a difficult time.

One of the Celtics’ most ardent supporters has been Tom Heinsohn, who has been a staple of Boston basketball for many decades. Younger fans would know Heinsohn from Celtics broadcasts, as he unabashedly pulls for the team that he played for back in the 1960’s. Fans love to see people in power who care about a cause just as much as they do.

In the moment, enthusiasts of pop culture and sports were enamored by the fact that Jay-Z was going to be a part owner of the Nets franchise. In reality, his stake was minute, but his outsized presence helped give the team a bit of cache as they moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn. It was a fun choice for a team looking to spice up their brand.

This might be a bit of a bittersweet recollection for Seattle SuperSonics fans, but Kevin Durant did represent the franchise at an NBA draft lottery. It was supposed to be the beginning of a new scintillating stretch of Sonics basketball, but soon ended with the relocation of the franchise to Oklahoma City.

The Pollin family owned the professional basketball team in Washington D.C. for an extended period of time. Abe Pollin was the majority owner, and his wife Irene attended the draft lottery when her husband passed away. Irene wore an old suit jacket of Abe’s to a draft lottery, right before the Leonsis family bought the team.

The Nets were also revitalized by the purchase of the team by Russian magnate Mikhail Prokhorov, who had a lot of outward confidence about the direction of the franchise. Prokhorov wanted Brooklyn to become the world’s team, and was adamant about winning a championship in the first five years of his ownership.

The 76ers haven’t been shy about showcasing Julius Erving at their games, and they also utilized the ABA/NBA legend at the draft lottery. During their famed “process” years, Erving made the trip to the lottery to encourage Philadelphia fans that better days were ahead. He wasn’t wrong, as those collection picks helped them acquire Joel Embiid.

Russell Westbrook has been a polarizing individual for a long time in NBA circles, but brought his trademark style to the NBA draft lottery. The event is known for executives wearing their finest suits, but Westbrook arrived at the event one year in a colorful shirt that he thought would bring luck to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He wasn’t with the Celtics for very long, but point guard Isaiah Thomas’ impact on the fanbase was undeniable. He’s one of the shortest players in NBA history, but backed down to no one. Thomas was Boston’s representative for the draft lottery that preceded the infamous Markelle Fultz for Jayson Tatum trade.