In 1985, the New York Knicks won the NBA Draft Lottery and selected Patrick Ewing first overall. Ewing would spend 15 seasons with the Knicks, making 11 All-Star Games on his way to becoming the best player in franchise history.
The start of his career was not without controversy. In the best-known conspiracy theory in the NBA, it's suspected that Commissioner Davis Stern rigged the lottery so the Knicks, who had been bad or mediocre in the years prior, would land a marquee player.
LeBron James recently offered his stance on the alleged rigged draft.
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
James was drafted first overall by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, and when they won the draft lottery and secured the ability to draft James, who was a consensus top pick, owner Gordon Gund joked that "we don't know who we're going to pick yet."
James recently commented on his draft being rigged and hinted that if his draft was, 2003 wasn't the only year with questionable odds.
"Let's keep LeBron home, Patrick Ewing to the Knicks, Derrick Rose to the Bulls, I understand the assignment," said James on the Pat McAfee Show.
Recently, the league has been accused of rigging the 2023 Lottery, allowing the San Antonio Spurs to select Victor Wembanyama first overall.
Unlike Rose, who comes from Chicago, or James, who grew up near Cleveland, Ewing grew up in Jamaica and Boston and didn't have a direct connection to New York City.
Related: Josh Hart Gets Candid About Heartwarming Gesture After Knicks' Recent Win
Of course, James didn't directly suggest that he knows that the lottery is or was rigged, but he seems to think that the evidence certainly points in a particular direction.
Check out the All Knicks home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.
Related: Josh Mart Makes History During New York Knicks-Dallas Mavericks
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM.
Sports Pass is your ticket to Kansas City sports
#ReadLocal