The NBA lottery has always been point of reference from fans who accused the league of guiding things towards a desired outcome.
The 2025 Draft Lottery won by the Dallas Mavericks has refueled the speculation amongst many fans that something is rotten in Denmark with the Draft Lottery.
The 85 draft lottery that the Knicks won, enabling them to draft Patrick Ewing with the No. 1 overall pick, is the most prominent example that detractors point to as a clear-cut example of league-initiated lottery chicanery. Other examples that are looked at with a skeptical eye are the 2003 Draft Lottery which the Cleveland Cavaliers won, which allowed the Cavs to select Lebron James with the over all no.1 pick 2009 Draft Lottery in when the Chicago Bulls had a mere 1.7% chance of winning, but ended up getting the number one pick, which turned into Chicago native and future MVP Derrick Rose.
An interesting tale from Shaquille O’Neal seems to indicate the NBA may have steered the direction of the 1992 NBA Draft.
Speaking with Ashley Nevel the basketball legend recalls of an interesting conversation he had with then NBA Commissioner , the late David Stern.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard this story, but in June 1992, the draft was in June, I met Mr. Stern in March, and he says to me, ‘Hey, can’t wait for you to come to the NBA.’ And then he pulls me to the side [and says] ‘Do you want to play where it’s cold or where it’s hot?’ He asked me that, and I was like ‘hot’. He smiled, and I smiled. Minnesota was number 3, Charlotte was number 2, and Orlando was no.1.”
The Orlando Magic drafted Shaq with the no.1 overall pick in the 1992 draft and he would help lead the Magic to the NBA Finals in 1995.
The NBA could quell a lot of the chatter surrounding the integrity of the Draft Lottery if they lifted the veil of secrecy surrounding the proceedings, as they are held behind closed doors.
