Philly Sports Jabronis
By Max Rappaport, Sixers.com
It’s official. When the stage is set Tuesday night for the NBA Draft Lottery, The Doctor will be in the house.
The Sixers announced Monday afternoon that Julius Erving, who spent 11 years with the franchise (1976-87) and helped deliver an NBA Championship to the city of Philadelphia in 1983, will represent the team on stage at the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery in New York City.
“Dr. J is one of the most revered and legendary figures in the history of the Philadelphia 76ers and the National Basketball Association, so it is fitting that he represent us at the podium on this exciting night,” said Sixers CEO Scott O’Neil in a statement released Monday. “As we build for the future, we are thrilled to have a key part of our past with us to bring the team good luck during tomorrow night’s NBA Draft Lottery.”
Erving will represent Philadelphia and the Sixers Tuesday night at the NBA Drat Lottery. – photo credit: Sixers.com
Erving will be aided by a special charm given to him by Jake Spencer, a longtime Sixers fan who lives in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. His contribution? A lucky chunk of the glass backboard that was shattered by Erving’s former teammate, Darryl “Chocolate Thunder” Dawkins, during a game at the Spectrum on December 5, 1979.
The Sixers have been awarded the first-overall pick via the lottery just once in their history, in 1996, when they entered the drawing with second-best odds of receiving the top selection. On draft night one month later, they used the #1 pick to select Allen Iverson out of Georgetown University.
Like in 1996, Philadelphia enters this year’s lottery holding the second-best odds of receiving the first-overall pick.
Catch the lottery beginning at 8pm (EST) on ESPN.
