The NBA's "frozen envelope" draft conspiracy theory suggests that during the pre-2000 lottery era, some envelopes containing team names for the draft lottery were secretly frozen or manipulated to predetermine which teams got top picks, with the 1985 draft (where the Knicks and Nets benefited) often cited as a prime example of suspected manipulation to benefit major markets, though the NBA denies this, emphasizing lottery fairness.
Key Aspects of the Theory:
The Era: This theory primarily targets the NBA Draft Lottery system used before the 2000s, particularly the 1980s and 1990s.
The Mechanism: Proponents believe certain team envelopes were swapped, chilled, or marked before the televised drawing to ensure specific non-playoff teams (like the Knicks, Celtics, or Lakers) received high picks, boosting league popularity.
Famous Examples:
1985 Draft: The New York Knicks won the first pick (Patrick Ewing) despite having a low chance, fueling initial suspicions.
1995 Draft: The Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies (expansion teams) got top picks, leading to more theories.
Official Stance: The NBA maintains the lottery is fair, using weighted systems and clear procedures, though they did move to more transparent methods after these controversies.
Why It Persists:
Unlikely Outcomes: The sheer improbability of some lottery results, especially for big-market teams, keeps the idea alive.
Lack of Absolute Proof: While strong circumstantial evidence exists, no definitive proof of frozen envelopes has emerged, leaving it a persistent urban legend in basketball.
In essence, the "frozen envelope" idea is a popular, enduring conspiracy suggesting the NBA rigged its lottery for favorable outcomes, especially for storied franchises or new expansion teams.
NBA Draft Lottery Conspiracy Theories - Bleacher Report
The Conspiracy That Won't Die: Did the NBA Freeze Envelopes? - Complex
NBA Draft Lottery: Fact, Fiction, & Frozen Envelopes - NBA.com [archived]
NBA Draft Lottery Rules History - Wikipedia
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