In 1985, the NBA held its first-ever Draft Lottery. Many expected young Georgetown center Patrick Ewing to go first overall. The New York Knicks, one of the worst teams in the prior season, won the top pick and selected Ewing. Ever since, rumors have swirled that the lottery was rigged, perhaps to help the Knicks, the league’s biggest market. Did the NBA “fix” the lottery to send Ewing to New York?

There are a few instances when fans point to shocking patterns to claim the NBA drafts were rigged. Let’s examine what we do know about the 1985 Draft Lottery, what people suspect, and whether there is credible evidence.

What Was The 1985 Draft Lottery And How Did It Work? • The lottery was first introduced in 1985 to replace the previous coin-flip system for the worst teams. Seven non-playo

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