# Is the NBA Draft Lottery unfair?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [May 18, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308 "2011-05-18T12:54:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/61 "2011-05-20T23:41:59Z")
> [@markdash](#):
>
> It’s possible to rig the drawing, but it’s not quite as simple as “draw these numbers and team X wins.” How do you rig for combination 1-4-7-5, when combination 5-7-4-1 would give you a totally different result? It just seems impossible without an extraordinary amount of chicanery.
According to the Wikipedia ([NBA draft lottery - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_lottery)), the order doesn’t matter. It’s only the combination that matters, not the permutation.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/62 "2011-05-21T00:43:24Z")
> [@gonzomax](#):
>
> It didn’t feel quite right.
Most of us know that “it doesn’t feel right” isn’t proof of anything. It’s not even reliable evidence.
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/63 "2011-05-21T04:29:49Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> Most of us know that “it doesn’t feel right” isn’t proof of anything. It’s not even reliable evidence.
I did not say it reached the level of proof. Because i can not give absolute proof, although the ref scandal was a glaring example, does not mean I don’t think there is something rotten in the NBA? Nor does it mean I am wrong. This is not a court. it is entertainment .
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/64 "2011-05-21T04:34:53Z")
I’m sure you do think something is rotten. I was saying I don’t think you can back it up with facts- particularly if you’re talking about the draft, where everybody thinks it’s rigged when their team doesn’t get the #1 pick.
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### Author:  [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2011, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/65 "2011-05-21T06:56:17Z")
> [@RadicalPi](#):
>
> According to the Wikipedia ([NBA draft lottery - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_lottery)), the order doesn’t matter. It’s only the combination that matters, not the permutation.
You’re right, I somehow forgot that.
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### Author:  [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/66 "2011-05-22T16:17:24Z")
The NBA can save itself a huge headache by simply TELEVISING THE DAMN LOTTERY BALLS!!
Such a simple thing to do, but they don’t. Right now, they do this off camera in a back room and the come out with the results.
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### Author:  [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/67 "2011-05-22T22:44:30Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#):
>
> The NBA can save itself a huge headache by simply TELEVISING THE DAMN LOTTERY BALLS!!
>
> Such a simple thing to do, but they don’t. Right now, they do this off camera in a back room and the come out with the results.
And after the first year, when the viewers are bored stiff or thoroughly confused by the nuts-and-bolts explanation of how it works, the network unfortunate enough to have the contract to broadcast it will be begging to get out of it because it will be the lowest rated show in history.
The team reps are there. That should be good enough.
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### Author:  [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/68 "2011-05-23T15:57:08Z")
> [@Marley23](#):
>
> Most of us know that “it doesn’t feel right” isn’t proof of anything. It’s not even reliable evidence.
Especially when it comes to understanding probabilities, see “Monty Hall”.
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### Author:  [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/69 "2011-05-23T17:06:56Z")
It would add some drama if they drew the balls seconds before the team was on the clock to make a draft pick.
Never happen, but it would add a twist to the draft.
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/70 "2011-05-23T17:14:28Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#):
>
> If this were really true then wouldn’t the NBA have rigged something for the Knicks again (one of its biggest markets) by now? Ewing was a long time ago.
Bad management can fuck up the best laid plans.
They hired isaih Thomas for crying out loud. How does the league overcome that?
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/71 "2011-05-23T17:15:55Z")
Are you saying the NBA screws up the fixes in its own rigged, behind-closed-doors draft lottery?
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/72 "2011-05-23T17:22:20Z")
The GM still picks the players drafted.
The NFL gives the worst teams the best draft choices every year without a lottery. How well have the Detroit Lions done with that break? We had Millan in charge and he blew the choice year after year. You can give them the choice, but they have to use it wisely.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 23, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/73 "2011-05-23T17:31:51Z")
This makes negative sense. Drafting was the one and only thing Isiah Thomas was pretty good at. (Sexual harrassment doesn’t count.) Even if Thomas _did_ draft badly, that doesn’t explain why the league didn’t give the Knicks the pick. Anyway he was only with the Knicks from 2003 to 2008. The Knicks got rid of Ewing in 2000 and were bad starting in 2001. The bottom line is that it’s pointless to make up reasons the Knicks weren’t given the first pick in the “fixed” lottery when you can’t provide any sensible reason to think the draft is rigged in the first place.
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/74 "2011-05-24T03:35:25Z")
Look, I am well aware I can not prove it. Some people need a dead body with holes in it to declare murder. Some think when a person is missing for a couple months, something is wrong.
Something is wrong in the NBA. My opinion formed by watching way too many games that smelled bad. I would not be surprised if the whole league is not involved to some degree.
The Jordan Rules stunk. Most people know a rookie has to establish himself to" earn calls". What the hell is that about. Jordan could take steps from the locker room and not get called.
Favoritism in is calls is cheating.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2011, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/75 "2011-05-24T12:58:33Z")
> [@gonzomax](#):
>
> Some people need a dead body with holes in it to declare murder. Some think when a person is missing for a couple months, something is wrong.
Yes… but not all missing people are murdered.
> [@](#):
>
> Something is wrong in the NBA. My opinion formed by watching way too many games that smelled bad. I would not be surprised if the whole league is not involved to some degree.
> The Jordan Rules stunk.
What a coincidence - things started smelling bad once your team stopped winning! Who would have predicted such a thing! Your constant use of “The Jordan Rules,” even though I admit it’s the popular usage, is also kind of telling - you remember it being a big injustice that Jordan got calls, but not that “The Jordan Rules” originally meant the Pistons’ strategy to defend him (beat the crap out of him until he stopped driving the lane). One was OK, the other isn’t for some reason.
It’s not just that you can’t prove your point - we both know you can’t. It’s that your explanation of what’s wrong doesn’t even make sense. It doesn’t make much sense that the NBA would fix so many games and the lottery when the benefits are questionable and getting caught would destroy the league.
> [@](#):
>
> Most people know a rookie has to establish himself to" earn calls". What the hell is that about.
At long last you’ve correctly identified an actual problem. Yes, this stinks.
> [@](#):
>
> Favoritism in is calls is cheating.
Actually, no, it isn’t. It’s bad officiating.
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### Author:  [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/76 "2011-05-24T13:51:42Z")
Good points **Marley**. I would also like to add how hard it is to have a conspiracy of this magnitude. Too many people would have to some direct evidence of the conspiracy. It is hard to believe that not one of them would be a whistle-blower.
Yes, admittedly, there are things that make you go “ummmm?” People tend to notice the outliers and ignore the normal stuff that happens.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-nba-draft-lottery-unfair/582308/77 "2011-05-24T14:00:41Z")
And anyway, why does the NBA supposedly want to constantly screw its smaller markets (except San Antonio, which is either exempt for reasons unknown or wins in spite of the fixes)? Doesn’t it seem like that would hurt their franchise value, which would be bad for the owners of the teams unless they all pulled a Donald Sterling and made money by putting a bad team on the court for cheap? This year we’re talking about how Minnesota constantly gets screwed in the draft lottery, so if there’s a fix, evidently one goal would be to keep highly touted players from going to Minnesota. But if Minnesota is such a basketball wilderness, why do they have a team there in the first place? Why wouldn’t they move them out of Minnesota and put them someplace else that wouldn’t force them to rig the draft to keep players from being wasted there? Of course for purposes of this discussion, the 12 seasons Kevin Garnett spent in Minnesota didn’t happen.
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