By Berman
On the morning of the NBA playoffs, the Knicks touted their May 14th lottery by announcing team legend/Georgetown head coach Patrick Ewing will represent the team on the dais.
“The Big Fella” was drafted by New York with the number one pick in 1985 after the Knicks won the NBA’s first-ever draft lottery that year.
“Patrick is a huge part of our team’s history and we’re thrilled to have number 33 represent the franchise at this year’s draft lottery,” said Knicks president Steve Mills in a statement. “Patrick’s connection to the lottery is well documented, and we’re proud to have one of the all-time Knicks greats sit on the dais on behalf of the team, the city and the fans.”
On Thursday on his radio show, Ewing hinted he’d be representing the Knicks at the lottery, teasing about “a secret” being revealed soon after he was speaking about the possibility of Zion Williamson joining the Knicks.
Knicks GM Dave DeBusschere represented the team at the 1985 NBA Draft lottery when the Knicks were awarded the top pick and for years attempted to find the tie he wore that day from the family as a good-luck charm. The Knicks haven’t won it since. With the worst record in the NBA, the Knicks share a 14-percent chance of winning the Zion Williamson Lottery with Phoenix and Cleveland.
After lottery reform to prevent tanking, the Knicks chances aren’t as strong as it would have been had they finished with the worst record. In prior years, the worst club had a 25-percent shot. The chief advantage of being at the bottom this year is they can’t fall past five. In fact, the Knicks will have a 60-percent chance of winding up in the 4 of 5 hole.
Two years ago, Walt Frazier repped the Knicks on the dais and the club fell back from 7 to 8.
