On May 12, 1985, the NBA conducted its first Draft Lottery which is still in use to date.
And the Knicks were the first winners of the choice of the global draft n. 1 using the new system.
GM of that time Dave DeBusschere was relieved to hear that the Pacers had the second overall choice, which means that his Knicks team would get that first choice. There was also a clear choice of consensus in that slot.
Patrick Ewing left Georgetown that year, and with DeBusschere having an Ewing jersey ready during the lottery, New York would eventually make it official by taking it for the first time as a general when the draft began in June. And Ewing would surely live up to that choice.
35 years ago today, the Knicks won the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery, securing the #1 pick and the right to select a dominant center from Georgetown.
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 12, 2020
Dave DeBusschere had a Patrick Ewing jersey on hand as the state of the franchise was changed forever.pic.twitter.com/HgAE0H7UJb