Sports

NBA Lottery Still Creating Hope and Headlines After 30 Years

Published

11 years ago

May 19, 2015

In this June 18, 1985, file photo, Patrick Ewing accepts his New York Knicks jersey from Dave DeBusschere, right, general manager of the Knicks, as NBA commissioner David Stern look on, at the NBA Draft in New York. The NBA draft lottery debuted 30 years ago. The 2015 NBA draft lottery will take place in New York on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler, File)

BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Phil Jackson remembers watching old teammate Dave DeBusschere pound his fist in triumph, when the Knicks and NBA were dual winners.

The first draft lottery in 1985 gave New York the No. 1 pick and the NBA all the publicity a league could want, plus a way to deter teams from losing on purpose.

Thirty years later, the lottery still creates hope and headlines — though it’s debatable if tanking has ever gone away.

“It’s unique,” Jackson said. “It’s a fascinating process.”

It returns Tuesday night with the Knicks, now run by Jackson, with the second-best odds of winning, perhaps for the right to choose between big men Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky or Jahlil Okafor of national champion Duke.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have the best chance, though they’ve fallen backward eight times and never won even from the pole position. The team with the worst record rarely has, going winless since the Orlando Magic got the rights to Dwight Howard in 2004.

Howard is now playing in Houston, which is where this whole lottery story begins.

The Rockets nose-dived their way toward the bottom two years running, with longtime Orlando executive and four-time lottery winner Pat Williams once saying they “not so subtly basically packed it in for the last month” on their way to getting Hakeem (then Akeem) Olajuwon in 1984.

The top pick then was determined by a coin flip between the teams with the worst records in each conference, with the remaining teams picking in inverse order of their won-lost records.

The lottery debuted in 1985 with the seven non-playoff teams having equal odds as they vied for Patrick Ewing, and conspiracy theories forever followed when Commissioner David Stern pulled the envelope of the big-market Knicks, triggering the celebration of DeBusschere, their general manager.

Envelopes have given way to pingpong balls and the format has been tweaked through the years, though it dodged significant change last fall.

Commissioner Adam Silver, concerned about the tanking perception fueled largely by Philadelphia’s strategy of angling for high draft picks, favored reform to the current system that gives the team with the worst record a 25 percent chance of winning. It fell short of approval, and Silver now suggests the lottery will remain as is at least until after the league’s new TV contracts begin in 2016-17.

Perhaps by then the 76ers’ tactics will have worked, though Silver considers them rebuilding rather than tanking.

“What’s interesting in the discussion here, conventionally, when you think of tanking, you think of teams trying to lose,” he said. “Here in this case, even the greatest critics of a so-called rebuilding strategy would acknowledge that the team is trying to win. They are trying to win over a longer time period than that particular year.”

The 76ers are slotted in the third spot with a 15.6 percent chance of moving up to No. 1 and could land another high pick if the Lakers fall outside the top five and have to give it up as terms of a previous trade. So Los Angeles also ended up on the perceived tankers list while finishing with the NBA’s fourth-worst record.

The Knicks and Lakers being so high brings added interest Tuesday, and usual contenders Miami and Oklahoma City being in the lottery has prospects envisioning a chance to play with a Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook — who will represent the Thunder on stage.

“It’s crazy if you think about that type of stuff,” Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein said. “Like, those are people that you watched, that’s the people that you grew up watching. And getting a chance to play with them, or get to, like, learn under them? That’s powerful.”

Indiana’s Larry Bird and Miami’s Alonzo Mourning are some of the other big names who will be on stage in a New York hotel ballroom. Jackson declined, leaving the Knicks’ seat to be occupied by general manager Steve Mills.

Jackson also insisted that the Knicks earned their 17-65 mark, not aimed for it.

“There was no tanking involved in any of our expressions to the basketball team or to our coaching staff,” he said recently. “The idea wasn’t even proposed or talked about.”

The Knicks had the worst record late in the season, but a few victories dropped their odds of getting the No. 1 pick to 19.9 percent. Jackson shrugged that off, since only four times has the team that finished last or tied for last won the lottery.

Maybe the team needing the most help will find it under future formats. For now, Jackson just hopes the 30th anniversary lottery ends like the first.

“I think the NBA has put some thought in, and had so many discussions over the past. It’s really interesting,” he said. “We’ll submit ourselves to that and go and hope for the best.”

___

Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

3 weeks ago

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Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

7 months ago

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Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

10 months ago

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Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.