The NBA Draft Lottery has long been surrounded by conspiracy theories questioning its legitimacy. Here's an investigation into the most compelling cases and evidence:

The Frozen Envelope Theory (1985)

• First NBA Draft Lottery
• Rumored that the Knicks' envelope was frozen to help Commissioner David Stern identify it
• New York won the rights to draft Patrick Ewing
• Evidence included a visible bend in the Knicks' envelope corner
• Theory stems from NBA's desire to have a star in the large New York market

The LeBron James Saga

• 2003: Cleveland wins lottery to draft hometown star LeBron James
• Post-LeBron departure (2011-2014):
  • Won 2011 lottery with 2.8% odds (Kyrie Irving)
  • Won 2013 lottery with third-best odds (Anthony Bennett)
  • Won 2014 lottery with ninth-best odds (Andrew Wiggins)
• These picks helped convince LeBron to return in 2014

The Derrick Rose Case (2008)

• Chicago Bulls won with just 1.7% odds
• Allowed them to draft hometown star Derrick Rose
• Rejuvenated the NBA's third-largest market
• Rose became youngest MVP in league history

Other Notable Conspiracies

• 2012: New Orleans wins lottery after NBA-owned team loses Chris Paul
• 2016: Dikembe Mutombo congratulates 76ers hours before lottery results

While many lottery outcomes appear random, these coincidences have fueled ongoing speculation about the NBA's potential influence over the results. Though no concrete evidence exists, the frequency of favorable outcomes for major markets and compelling storylines continues to raise questions about the process's integrity.

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