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How much is a patrick ewing basketball card worth


Top Patrick Ewing Cards, Best Rookies, Autographs, Most Valuable List

It is easy to forget just how dominant Patrick Ewing was in college and during his NBA career. The lack of championship rings has seemingly softened the mainstream appreciation of the former All-Star. However, basketball fans and collectors do value his contributions to the game and there is a reason why Patrick Ewing cards maintain strong interest after so many years.

Throughout his 17-year career, Patrick Ewing enjoyed both individual and team success. Ewing was an 11-time All-Star and an Olympic Gold Medalist in 1992, as a member of the original "Dream Team." Although the New York Knicks were regularly in the playoff hunt, and Ewing helped carry the team to the 1994 and 1999 NBA Finals, he was unable to bring a championship back to New York. Patrick Ewing ended his career with one-year stints on the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic, and retired following the 2001-01 season. Ewing was ultimately elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

View the most popular Patrick Ewing card auction listings on eBay.

While Patrick Ewing cards remain popular among collectors, there is a general lack of certified autographs for the former center. The majority of Patrick Ewing autographs came in 2003-04 products, and those tend to be the most sought-after cards of the group.

The following list documents some of the best Patrick Ewing cards available today. The cards were selected based on a combination of rarity, popularity and value. While no list can be considered definite, we feel confident that any of these Patrick Ewing cards would make a solid addition to a personal collection.

Top Patrick Ewing Basketball Cards of All-Time

1985-86 Star Patrick Ewing XRC #166

  • Buy on eBay.

Another instance of a popular card that comes from a non-traditional brand, the 1985-86 Star Co. card for Patrick Ewing remains a fan favorite. Although it does maintain good values, it is not viewed as favorably as Patrick Ewing's Fleer rookie card, despite appearing a year before the Fleer card. The light blue border is not an ideal choice based on the Knicks color scheme, but the full-sized image showcases the giant that is Patrick Ewing. Also, look at those short shorts!

1986-87 Fleer Patrick Ewing RC #32

  • Buy on eBay.

Easily one his most popular cards, 1986-87 Fleer has the official Patrick Ewing rookie card. The card is likely familiar to all basketball collectors as the deep checklist and timeless layout has become immortalized in the hobby.

1986-87 Fleer Stickers Patrick Ewing #6

  • Buy on eBay.

Included in the same product as his rookie card, the Patrick Ewing Stickers insert features an entirely different design from the rookie and is the sole insert found in 1986-87 Fleer. The image that was chosen for the card is actually the exact same image from his fist Star card.

1987-88 Fleer Patrick Ewing #37

  • Buy on eBay.

Not nearly as valuable as his previous cards, 1987-88 Fleer represents a great budget option for collectors to obtain an early Patrick Ewing card. While it does have a retro design, the simple layout still remains appealing after all these years.

1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Patrick Ewing #26

  • Buy on eBay.

The great success of Precious Metal Gems marked a huge moment for a card industry that was already in flux. These rare parallels are some of the most valuable cards from the 1990s and have been copied and rebooted many times. Limited to a total of 100 numbered cards, the first 10 are green and the remaining 90 are red.

1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey Patrick Ewing #GJ20 Jersey Relic

  • Buy on eBay.

Another monumental concept that still remains prevalent in the hobby today, Upper Deck Game Jersey cards were game-changers. Patrick Ewing was among 22 players featured in this set and all cards remain highly sought-after by collectors.

2003-04 Exquisite Collection Exquisite Patches Patrick Ewing Autograph Patch #/100

  • Buy on eBay.

Few brands have revolutionized the industry like Exquisite basketball. It all started with 2003-04 Exquisite, arguably one of the greatest modern sets ever released. There are several autographed Patrick Ewing cards available in this product, and all are appealing options. The Patrick Ewing Exquisite Patches autographed card is numbered to 100 and can be seen below. Featuring a horizontal layout, the card includes a nice patch and on-card autograph. Limited Logos is another popular autographed Exquisite option for Patrick Ewing cards.

2003-04 SP Signature Edition Signatures Patrick Ewing Autograph #PE

  • Buy on eBay.

With a few more splashes of color, the SP Signature Edition Signatures is one of the boldest-looking autographed Patrick Ewing cards. The gold parallel, numbered to 50, is pictured below.

2003-04 Ultimate Collection Signatures Patrick Ewing Autograph #PE

  • Buy on eBay.

2003-04 Ultimate Collection features another autographed Patrick Ewing cards with a horizontal layout. The very simple design allows the image of Ewing and his on-card signature to be the main focus for the card. A gold parallel adds further intrigue and is numbered to 33, which is Ewing's jersey number.

Another '03-04 NBA product, 2003-04 SP Authentic, offers a similar Patrick Ewing autograph card in both layout and design.

2012-13 Leaf Metal Patrick Ewing Autographed Patch #/99

  • Buy on eBay.

Outside of 2003-04 basketball products, few other options are available for collectors to pull autographed Patrick Ewing cards. An emerging player in the basketball card industry, Leaf managed to secure Ewing for inclusion in 2012-13 Leaf Metal Basketball and collectors have shown great interest in the cards. Despite not being NBA-licensed, Leaf averted the air-brushed jersey routine by including a small headshot of Ewing, set above a jersey patch and on-card signature. The base card is blue and numbered to 99. Several parallels are also available, including Orange (#/20), Red (#/5) and Gold (1/1).


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The 15 Most Expensive Patrick Ewing Basketball Cards

Are you a vintage basketball collector looking for the most valuable Patrick Ewing cards?

In his four-year stint with Georgetown, Patrick Ewing has gone down in history as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time–16th greatest, according to ESPN in 2008. His career didn’t end at Georgetown, though. 

Ewing spent the majority of his NBA career with the New York Knicks playing center before spending some brief time with Orlando Magic and Seattle SuperSonic. While with the Knicks, Ewing led the team to the NBA finals twice and earned recognition as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. 

During this time, Ewing also represented the U.S. on the U.S. basketball team for the Olympics in 1984 and 1992. Returning to his roots, Ewing is the current head coach for the Georgetown Hoyas. 

Throughout his illustrious career, Ewing not only garnered 11 all-star recognitions and two inductions into the Basketball Hall of Fame but many coveted basketball cards. From his beginning with the Georgetown Hoyas to the very end of his career with the Seattle SuperSonics, Ewing has many valuable basketball cards in circulation. 

While he has many basketball cards out there, we’ve narrowed down the market to the 15 most valuable. To do so, we’ve taken a look at the cards’ PSA, price, condition, and when in Ewing’s career they’re from.     

Take a look below at the list of 15 most valuable Patrick Ewing basketball cards in order from the most expensive Patrick Ewing card to the least.

Table of Contents
  1. The 15 Most Valuable Patrick Ewing Basketball Cards
    1. 1. 1997-98 Metal Universe Patrick Ewing Precious Metal Gems (Red)
    2. 2. 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey Patrick Ewing 
    3. 3. 1986 Fleer Sticker Patrick Ewing Card #6
    4. 4. 1986 Fleer Patrick Ewing Card #32 – Rookie Card
    5. 5. 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor Patrick Ewing #1
    6. 6. 1982 Georgetown Hoyas #2 Patrick Ewing – Rookie
    7. 7. 1993 Patrick Ewing Ultra Scoring Kings #3
    8. 8. 1996 Flair Showcase Row 1 Patrick Ewing – Base
    9. 9. 1989 Fleer Patrick Ewing #7
    10. 10. 1988 Fleer Sticker Patrick Ewing
    11. 11. 1990 Skybox #187 Patrick Ewing – Rookie Card
    12. 12. 1993 Finest #90 Patrick Ewing
    13. 13. 1990 Fleer All-Stars Patrick Ewing #12
    14. 14. 1995-96 SP Holoviews Knicks Basketball Card Patrick Ewing
    15. 15. 1989 NBA Hoops #80 Patrick Ewing 

1. 1997-98 Metal Universe Patrick Ewing Precious Metal Gems (Red)

Current Price: $5,000

Among the rarest basketball cards out there, the Metal Universe Patrick Ewing Precious Metal Gems basketball card in red sells for upwards of $5,000. These cards come in either red or green foil, making them prone to flaking and chipping. 

Finding a card from this set in pristine condition is extremely difficult, meaning you can expect one in good condition to sell for much more than previous cards. Ewing’s card from this set is in near mint condition, so you can expect minimal to no visible scratching. This is the most expensive and most valuable Patrick Ewing card available because of its rarity and condition. 

The Precious Metal Gems basketball cards recently grew in popularity when a 1997 Michael Jordan Precious Metal Gems Green became one of the most expensive basketball cards ever sold.  Check out our full list of the most expensive sports cards ever sold and see these crazy prices.

2. 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey Patrick Ewing 

Current Price: $1,000

The 1997-98 Upper Deck Game Jersey basketball card set consisted of 22 cards, all of which got randomly inserted into packs at a rate of 1 card per 2,500 packs. These cards were and are extremely rare to come by and contain actual game-worn fabric from the related player’s jersey. 

A Michael Jordan card from this set recently sold for over $2 Million and is the most expensive Michael Jordan card ever sold.

Ewing’s authenticated Upper Deck Game Jersey card from 1997-98 ranges upwards of $1,000 because it’s so rare and unique. While this card does not have a specific PSA rating, you can expect a like-new condition with minimal to no damage. There’s also a pre-owned edition of the card that has a lower bidding price, but you can expect that card to exceed $1,000 as well.

3. 1986 Fleer Sticker Patrick Ewing Card #6

Current Price: $500-800

Since this 1986 Fleer basketball pack came as stickers, finding cards with high PSA’s and in excellent condition is difficult. This card is also more valuable because limited quantities exist. Since finding high-quality conditions is challenging, you can expect the Ewing 1986 Fleer sticker to range into the high $100s for a GEM MT condition.

4. 1986 Fleer Patrick Ewing Card #32 – Rookie Card

Current Price: $500-$1,000

This 1986 Fleer card for Patrick Ewing gained notoriety and popularity because, during 1986, Ewing received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award during this time. Although, this 1986 Fleer pack cultivated popularity entirely. 

For Ewing’s card, you can expect prices to increase for GEM MT ratings. A GEM MT card will typically cost upwards of $1,000 while those in NM-MT remain in the hundreds. Even with an NM-MT rating, the card still maintains an overall high PSA of 8.  

5. 1996 Topps Chrome Refractor Patrick Ewing #1

Current Price: $300-$400

While the 1996 Tops Chrome basketball packs came in a high volume, finding a card in good condition is hard to come by because the distinctive chrome bordering is prone to damage. Ewing also served as this pack’s anchor card, making it more desirable. 

In mint condition with a 9 PSA, the Ewing 1996 Tops Chrome Refractor card’s price ranges within the $100s. 

6. 1982 Georgetown Hoyas #2 Patrick Ewing – Rookie

Current Price: $200-$800

While college-level basketball cards are not as coveted as NBA cards, Ewing’s 1982 Georgetown Hoyas card has a limited circulation volume of fewer than 100 cards. This limitation makes the card valuable, but the card’s mint condition and 9 PSA make the card highly sought-after.

This Ewing rookie card can sell anywhere between $100 and $1,000, while not as rare or desired as some of the previously mentioned cards. 

7. 1993 Patrick Ewing Ultra Scoring Kings #3

Current Price: $100

The 1993 Patrick Ewing Ultra Scoring Kings basketball card highlight’s Ewing’s scoring success rate during his NBA career up to 1993. The card has increased circulation, making it not as rare or popular as some of Ewing’s earlier cards, but with a high-quality condition, this card ranges up to $100. Some issues with centering for the card may influence the price. 

8. 1996 Flair Showcase Row 1 Patrick Ewing – Base

Current Price: $200

As a Row 1 card within the 1996 Flair Showcase basketball card set, this Ewing card was more common than the set’s Show Stopper cards, making it less valuable. However, the card’s sleek design and multiple images make it desirable from an appearance standpoint. 

Plus, the card has a high PSA of 9 and is in mint condition. Even with those distinguishing factors, the card is relatively low priced, running up to, but typically not over, $100. 

9. 1989 Fleer Patrick Ewing #7

Current Price: $25 

The 1989 Fleer Patrick Ewing card #7 has a high-ranking PSA score of 9 OC, making it more valuable than those with lower scores. However, since the score is conditional based on the card’s poor centering, it is not nearly as expensive or valuable as cards with a higher PSA. 

The card ranges in price, but the bidding starts at an inexpensive price of $10 due to the centering issue. You can expect this price to increase, though, since the card is in mint condition. This card is from Ewing’s time with the New York Knicks and is an all-star card from one of his many all-star recognitions.  

10. 1988 Fleer Sticker Patrick Ewing

Current Price: $20

Another Fleer sticker card, you can expect more value from one in GEM MT condition. However, very few–if any–GEM MT 1988 Fleer sticker editions exist for Ewing. However, you can find some in mint condition with a high PSA rating. Even with an adequate condition, this card will cost much less than a GEM MT card. Typically, the Ewing 1988 Fleer Sticker ranges below $100.  

11. 1990 Skybox #187 Patrick Ewing – Rookie Card

Current Price: $90

As a rookie card, Ewing’s 1990 Skybox #187 card is more expensive than cards from later on in the player’s career. Besides the rookie status, this card has a GEM MT rating of 10, meaning that it’s practically in perfect condition.

Because of this card’s rating and high-quality condition, this card starts bidding at $32. Some people consider this card rarer than the previously mentioned 1986 Fleer Patrick Ewing Card #32. You can expect the price and value of the card to skyrocket in some cases. 

12. 1993 Finest #90 Patrick Ewing

Current Price: $24

This Ewing basketball card has a very 90s design, posing Ewing against a brick wall with splashes of holographic color. Perhaps because of the odd design or the amount produced, the card is not as valuable as some but will still add to a collection for its uniqueness. The Ewing 1993 Finest card only costs around $20.

13. 1990 Fleer All-Stars Patrick Ewing #12

Current Price: $18.50

Similar to the 1989 Fleer Patrick Ewing #7, this 1990 edition is from one of Ewing’s all-star recognition seasons, which you’ll note from the Fleer ’90s all-star border. Unlike the previous fleer card, this one has a PSA of 9, making it nearly perfect and pristine. 

Even though it has a PSA rating, this card’s bidding starts at an inexpensive $10. The low price is nearly guaranteed to increase as bidding progresses, but you can expect this card to cost much less than the earlier all-star card editions. 

14. 1995-96 SP Holoviews Knicks Basketball Card Patrick Ewing

Current Price: $10

You’d think, as another holographic card, the series would sell for higher than the asking price; but, the Holoview series was not so popular and overproduced. However, since the edition is from later in Ewing’s career and comes in good condition, it will make a nice, complete edition to an Ewing collection. You can find this card for a little over $10 and sometimes below.  

15. 1989 NBA Hoops #80 Patrick Ewing 

Current Price: $51

Even though the basketball fans consider the 1989 NBA Hoops basketball cards set over-produced, they helped launch the scene. Because of their popularity and mass production, you can expect all of these editions for all players–except for David Robinson–to have lower prices.  

You can purchase Ewing 1989 NBA Hoops card, even in GEM MT condition, for less than $10. 

Read Next: 13 Most Expensive David Robinson Basketball Cards

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Catch me if you can. The Patrick Ewing Conspiracy Theory - Sports and Philosophy - Blogs

It was 1984 and NBA teams were tanking with a fervor that even Sam Hinkie would envy; however, no one did it as brazenly as the San Diego Clippers and their owner, 50-year-old Donald Sterling, who made his fortune in real estate and preferred to wear shirts unbuttoned to the navel. A couple of years before the events we are describing, when his team was stuck with a rather mediocre lineup, Sterling publicly stated “We will have to bite the bullet and understand that victories can be achieved through defeats.”

Unfortunately, he was right. The pick order in the draft was determined by the number of losses, and the first place was decided by a coin toss between the worst teams in both conferences. Thus was created a paradise for losers: the worst thing that could happen to the worst is the second pick in the draft. However, the Clippers were far from the best in terms of tanking. In the 1982-83 season, the Rockets went on several losing streaks and then won the coin toss to get Ralph Sampson. In the course of the following season, the Houstonians returned to their old ways, losing 20 of the last 27 games of the season and ahead of the Clippers in the fight for the lowest place in the West. It got to the point where Rocket coach Bill Fitch forced then 38-year-old Alvin Hayes to play 52 of 53 minutes in overtime (is it a coincidence that Hayes retired a week after that game?). Houston won the coin toss and received another valuable prize - Akim Olajuwon.

According to then-Philadelphia general manager Pat Williams, officials and owners throughout the league went crazy with such audacity. David Stern, a young and ambitious NBA commissioner, decided to change the situation and did not waste time on various committees and investigations. Instead, he introduced the lottery concept directly to a meeting of club owners in June 1985. His rush was understandable, for that year's draft offered the winner one of the most valuable prizes of the past few decades.

To understand how much each team was hungry for Ewing 30 years ago, you need to forget everything you know about the modern NBA and go back to the era when the league was ruled by the "big". Of course, even then there were such rare copies of the stretch for that time (Larry Bird) or point forward (Magic Johnson), but most of all the league valued physical dimensions, and was entirely owned by Russell and Chamberlain, Walton and Malone. The recipe for success seemed simple in those years - find yourself a solid center and surround him with minions dragging the ball and loading the “paint”.

Since Lew Alcindor's departure from UCLA in 1969, there has been no more dominant giant in the NCAA than a 7-foot-tall, 240-pound Georgetown center. Ewing's package of scoring, rebounding, blocking and cementing paint has given the Hoyas three collegiate championship finals and one title. When TBS started listing Ewing's strengths during the 1985 Draft ceremony, the words "Can you imagine that?!" simply appeared on the screen. But Ewing offered the teams something more than just his basketball talent - he offered salvation, because it was about ticket sales, income growth, legitimacy, after all. Magazines of the era seriously called him the most recognizable person to ever join a professional sports league.

The seven teams that did not make the 1984 playoffs had the same chance of getting a center from Georgetown - 14.3%. Contenders ranged from absolute underdogs (like the Warriors, who hadn't made the postseason since 1977) to the slightly sluggish Hawks (who miraculously missed that year's playoffs; quite intentionally, according to many). Seattle needed a real center, not power forward Jack Sikma masquerading as him. Clippers general manager Karl Shear issued an open letter of apology to season ticket holders after the team had only 31 wins in the regular season. The Pacers still looked like they were playing in the ABA, and the Kings had only recently fled Kansas City under a barrage of criticism and moved to Sacramento like a man in the FBI's witness protection program. Well, the Knicks ended the worst season in their performance in the last 20 years - Bernard King missed 25 games, Bill Cartwright did not play all season, and the Madison Square Garden stands were half empty for most of the regular season.

If there was an ideal place for Ewing in the league, it's its biggest market - New York. The 1980s are considered the golden years of the NBA, but do not forget that such an epithet is true only for the second half of that decade. In the spring of 1985, Jordan was still a rookie in the nasty Bulls, the rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics had only just gained momentum, and the NBA was weighed down by poor attendance, money-losing franchises, and a cocaine addiction so severe it was reported Los Angeles Times dated 1982, about 75% of players have used the drug to some extent. In 1983, the league came close to disbanding 6 of its 23 teams.

The NBA's four-year, $91.9 million deal with CBS expired at the end of the season. The arrival of Ewing in Sacramento did not give the league any trump cards for negotiations with television. But Ewing in New York was another story. The New York Times , days before the draft lottery, wrote, “The prevailing view among league officials and television producers is that Ewing will do the most good for the NBA in the form of the Knicks.

Some were even more radical in their opinion. Stan Kasten, general manager of the Hawks, recalls visiting a collegiate tournament in Hawaii a few months before the draft. “I sat in the stands with a couple of people related to the NBA. I remember how one of the highest officials, whose name I cannot name for quite understandable reasons, was one hundred percent sure that Ewing would join the Knicks and that everything was a foregone conclusion. At that moment, of course, I did not believe his words.

David Joel Stern never complained about his lack of ambition. Streetwise (he learned how to connect with people by watching his father, a successful restaurant owner in New York as a child) and academically (a Columbia Law School degree) smart, he was promoted from NBA executive vice president to commissioner in February 1984, at the age of 41. The creation of the draft lottery was one of his first steps, necessary, in his opinion, to protect the legitimacy of the league. However, his next step was even more innovative - he decided to broadcast the draft lottery.

These days, such a move seems to be commonplace, but the era of thirty years ago was deprived of 24-hour news, at least half of the NBA playoffs were not even broadcast, and the draft ceremony was shown on weekday tapes on the USA Network, which the NBA had to pay 40 thousand dollars a year for this show. At the time, it seemed to NBA officials that the lottery would seem to viewers a complicated way of tossing a coin, but Stern decided not to abandon his plan.

On Sunday, May 12, 1985, CBS reporter Pat O'Brien arrived at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City for a draft ceremony. O'Brien prepared a few options specifically for his report, the use of which depended on who got the first pick in the draft, and which basically began with "So basketball is back in ...". The NBA accredited more than a hundred members of the media and invited another hundred guests who filled the Starlight Roof Club on the 18th floor of the hotel. One of the most popular nightclubs of those years decorated its walls with blue and the NBA logo, and hoisted a large transparent ball onto the stage.

The plastic drum was the idea of ​​Rick Weltz, a 32-year-old rising star in the NBA office, who was commissioned by David Stern to develop a lottery that was both transparent and able to entertain viewers. Stern was already known for his toughness early in his reign, forcing interns to work 60-70 hour weeks and savagely criticizing them for failing to live up to his standards. As a result, Weltz was very nervous and overjoyed at the help of Hugh Ruskey, a screenwriter with extensive experience writing presidential debates. After several initial ideas were rejected, the working group decided to settle on the idea of ​​a transparent drum in which seven envelopes, each one square foot in size, would be mixed.

In hindsight, the decision to use envelopes was quite peculiar - square flat objects don't get mixed up in a sphere the way you can with ping-pong balls. “We were afraid that the ball would suddenly open and the balls would start bouncing around. Plus, we were trying to create a serious atmosphere, and using ping-pong balls would turn everything into a circus or a real lottery,” recalls Brian McIntyre, then head of NBA public relations. In addition, the NBA wanted to place team logos on the cards inside the envelopes in order to make the lottery ceremony more visible. “During one of the first rehearsals for the ceremony, the balloon popped open and one of the envelopes started flying around the studio, terrifying everyone,” says Weltz.

Preparing for the ceremony was in many ways a rather complicated process. Deciding to use the hotel grounds instead of some kind of arena or TV studio, the NBA and CBS had to go through a whole operation, the most important part of which was delivering hundreds of meters of TV cables, lifting them up to the 18th floor, and then dropping them down to the TV studio van, whose driver suffered all day. trying to park it in the middle of the day on Manhattan's 49th street. Even more questions were raised by the presence of team representatives during the ceremony - what were they supposed to do, just sit and smile?

By 1:00 pm, an hour before the draft ceremony was scheduled to be shown at halftime in the playoff game between Boston and Philadelphia, Starlight Roof was packed to capacity. At least one journalist flew in from every city whose team claimed the main prize of the draft. As many as three television studios from Atlanta broadcast outside the hotel. Despite all this, O'Brien remembers how quiet the room was: "I've been to murder trials, and even there people weren't so tense. " Representatives of seven teams were sitting on the stage, squirming in their chairs from discomfort.

Meanwhile, in Seattle, the SuperSonics were celebrating St. Patrick Ewing's Day, and the Clippers, despite the fact that it was Sunday, were opening ticket offices in hopes of a sales boost if they got the first pick in the draft. . The Kings held a party at their new arena in Sacramento with two well-known telepaths trying to influence the outcome of the lottery. Knicks general manager Dave DeBuschere carried a horseshoe in his pocket to the ceremony, and also admitted that during Mass that morning at St. Joseph's Church near his home, he was too focused on basketball in his prayers.

At around 1:45 p.m., the game between Boston and Philadelphia went into recess and O'Brian prepared to start reporting. NBA commissioner David Stern took the stage. What happened next turned into a kind of Zapruder film for sports fans, which was erased from views on YouTube and was parsed by the second by cospirologists. Stern explained the lottery process. A white-haired Ernst & Whinney accountant named Jack Wagner tossed seven envelopes one at a time into the open drum, pausing for a fraction of a second, maybe to get a better aim? - before throwing the fourth envelope, which hit the inside of the ball and bent the corner. NBA head of security Jack Joyce twirled the drum five times before Stern exhaled distinctly and reached for the envelope that would have sealed Ewing's fate. The agent's hand rummaged around until it pulled out an envelope that had a bent corner.

Pulling out the remaining six envelopes one by one, Stern began opening them in reverse order. "The seventh pick in the 1985 draft goes to the Golden State Warriors!" he announced, and the camera panned to Al Attles, the stoic and proud face of the California franchise, who finished the season with the worst record in the league and, just a year before, could have qualified for the worst-case second pick in the draft. Kasten, who sat beside him, patted him sympathetically on the shoulder, while Attles looked like "he was hit in the face with a butt," in the words of Pat Williams. “We happened to watch a person go through five stages of despair in front of everyone,” recalls the sports columnist Los Angeles Times Sam McManis.

Meanwhile, Stern continued to open the envelopes and name the teams - Kings, Hawks, Sonics, Clippers. Finally, only two teams remained - New York and Indiana. The commissioner tugged and tugged at the envelope until he finally ripped the duct tape that Ernst & Whinney had sealed it with and announced, "Second pick in the 1985 draft goes to the Indiana Pacers!" A murmur went through the crowd, and three things happened at the same time: Herb Simon, co-owner of the Pacers, got up from his chair and immediately fell back in a state of shock; DeBouchere victoriously slammed his fist on the table; and O'Brien proclaimed "Basketball is back in New York, friends!", for which he was joked by fans for years.

Over the next two hours, the Madison Square Garden ticket office received more than a thousand calls. If the news is to be believed, alcohol sales in New York City bars skyrocketed while the celebrant was interviewed in Washington by CBS and Sports Illustrated , whose correspondent, Manny Millan, brought with him the uniforms of all seven teams vying for the Georgetown center in order to immediately photograph Ewing for a magazine cover. According to Millan, Ewing burst into a smile as soon as he learned that he was to play in New York.

The league's young commissioner considered the lottery a great success and was glad that people were finally not discussing the NBA in light of drug abuse or any other negativity. The stats prove him right—overnight, NBA television ratings soared, and the NBA draft became the highlight of sports programming on all TV channels. However, the next day, the jubilation of NBA officials subsided a little: one of the New York tabloids found out that Ernst & Whinney was the accounting firm for Gulf & Western, which, by an unexpected coincidence, was the owner of the Knicks. When asked about the possibility of rigging the lottery, Jack Crumpe, president of Madison Square Garden, replied with a sneer, “I rigged the result two months ago by calling Ernst & Whinney and saying I would fire them if we didn’t get Ewing.”

The journalists responded by writing “Krampe is joking. Maybe". Meanwhile, a television station in Indianapolis showed in slow motion how the corner of an envelope with a Knicks card inside had been folded over. Rumors began to swirl that the Knicks envelope had been placed in the refrigerator first so that Stern could feel which envelope to pull out, to which the commission agent replied, “I don’t care, let people think that the outcome of the lottery was rigged, as long as they wrote correctly league name. What matters is what they say about us.

In the three decades that have passed since that day, several generations of skeptics have grown up, whose work you can find on the Internet: a short documentary on YouTube called "The Big Judge"; discussions in various forums, with their length and detail that can be compared with scientific dissertations; article by Patrick Herbie from 2012, in which he describes how he watched the broadcast of the draft lottery several times with a professional magician in the hope of catching Stern on some kind of manipulation. However, concentrating on conspiracy theories causes us to miss out on more important moments in the first draft lottery. But that was the first attempt to fight the policy of tanking in the performance of a professional sports league, and this should be considered something akin to a feat.

In the following years, the league fine-tuned the process, and since 1987, the worst team in the league cannot fall below the fourth pick in the draft. Now the lottery process is much more complicated and is carried out in the presence of team representatives and selected journalists. Four of the fourteen numbered ping-pong balls are drawn from the drum three times, thus creating a thousand and one possible number combinations that determine the teams that will get the first three spades. Of course, the complexity of the process hasn't stopped some teams on their way to tanking (won't point fingers at Philadelphia), but the system is still the most advanced system used by America's professional sports leagues.

Let's not forget about the basketball ripple itself, which was created by a pebble called the 1985 Draft Lottery. After the ceremony, DeBuscher declared, "We're finally going to be a strong team," but he didn't know that day that years would pass and it would take the arrival of Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy for the Knicks, led by Ewing, to finally blossom. The team perhaps most affected by the outcome of the lottery? Golden State - yes, they wisely disposed of their seventh pick, received instead of a 50% chance for Ewing, by choosing future Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, but it took the franchise a quarter of a century to find a good big one. And how many scenarios on the topic “What if?” offers us a draft-1985! Just imagine Ewing and Reggie Miller together in Indiana. Or Ewing and Dominic Wilkins in Atlanta. Imagine if the teams picking after the Knicks didn't go after shots like John Konchak or Joe Klein, but took Detlef Schrempf (picked 8th overall), Charles Oakley (9th), Karl Malone ( 13th), Joe Dumars (18th) or Terry Porter (24th).

Well, the most important aspect of that draft is probably its cultural impact. McManis credits the decision to televise the lottery as one of Stern's first marketing geniuses, and Ed Desser (producer who later ran NBA Entertainment and founded Desser Sports Media) points out that it was groundbreaking for the era, and that just a couple of years later, television the ratings of the lottery exceeded the ratings of the matches, during the break of which this very ceremony was shown.

The success of the lottery broadcast gave Stern carte blanche and he took control of literally everything - All Star Weekend, international deals, TV packages, licensing. The league broke its own attendance records annually in his first seven years as commissioner; Since then, merchandising sales have jumped 437%, wages have risen 177%, TV contract fees have increased sixfold, and franchise prices have tripled. Stern tried to copy the successful Disney concept, stating, “Disney has theme parks. We have them too, but we call them arenas. They have lovable characters like Mickey Mouse and Goofy. Our characters are known as MJ and Magic. Disney sells merchandising and video products. We have it all too."

There was no such thing that Stern was embarrassed to develop, if it had at least some marketing potential. After all, it's about the man who ordered All-Star Weekend to be recorded in high definition in order to secure a contract with Japan. In 1991! "A phrase that characterizes Stern's work is 'Don't be afraid to try new things.' I remember once asking Rick Weltz about one of the commissioner's ideas, “Are we really going to try this?”, to which he replied, “Well, if it doesn't work, it won't work. We are not afraid to make mistakes." Although Stern certainly kicked the crap out of you, if you make a mistake,” McIntyre says with a laugh.

The Draft Lottery is now considered a must-see for die-hard NBA fans. You can even find a popular cut-up on YouTube with ten of the best moments in the history of the ceremony, even if there are no surprises - envelopes open, Clippers grimaces, Grizzlies constantly get the second pick, deputy commissioner Russ Granik looks serious and collected. However, despite the lack of surprises, the lottery ceremony is always full of a kind of tragedy. Owners and general managers spend years and hundreds of millions of dollars to get their teams in the best position for them. They use the highest order of statistics in order to achieve the minimum advantage. However, alas, stupid luck often decides a lot. And general managers don't hide how much the draft is costing them. “Your palms are sweating, your heart is beating faster – and all because in your city you are expected to peak higher, as if you can control the outcome. Pretty nerve-wracking way to make a living, you know,” says Pat Williams, who has won three first picks for Orlando and one for Philadelphia.

Agree, however - your thoughts are still slipping into conspiracy theories. They flared up again when Orlando got the first pick two years in a row, and when the Wizards got it in 2001 just after Jordan became a minority owner of the organization. I think no one has forgotten how New Orleans got the first pick in the sale of the club to Tom Benson. But none of these cases causes such a resonance as the very first lottery in 1985. Year after year, the myth is replenished with new details - Stern grew up in New York and always rooted for the Knicks; Knicks finished season 1984-85 with the seventh-worst record in the league, but managed to win the lottery in its first year; DeBuscher quite by accident had a T-shirt with number 33, which he later victoriously showed to reporters.

Those who were present at the events we describe express different opinions.

“All these theories only cause laughter among those who were involved in organizing the ceremony. We were most worried that the drum would not open and the envelopes would not spill out. We just wouldn't have the nerve to manipulate corners and freeze envelopes,” Weltz dismisses.

“At first we laughed it off in response to questions about a possible conspiracy. Then all this began to irritate us. Now, years later, I just ignore these questions,” says McIntyre. “Stern is smart enough to pull this off. He is also smart enough not to dare to do such stupidity. For me personally, the secret is how John Konchak got a big contract. I tried for years to get the truth out of DeBuscher, who we were friends with, but he always just shrugged his shoulders and claimed that he was very surprised by the outcome of the lottery. And if you watched the recording, you will understand that he is not lying, ”says O’Brien.

Even the general managers who were present at those events are skeptical.

“Conspiracies are not easy to keep secret. If in this business more than one person knows about something, then it is very difficult to hide it. A frozen envelope and a commission agent feeling each of them for temperature during a live broadcast on national television? All this is too tricky even for the administration of the NBA,” Pat Williams expresses his point of view.

“I think we should have got the first or second pick, but it turned out pretty well - we got Mullin. I'm not going to talk about conspiracies," Al Attles, 78, who ran out of the ceremony hall 30 years ago out of frustration and refused to answer questions, said in an interview.

This, however, does not mean that absolutely no one believes in conspiracy theories. They just choose their words carefully. It all boils down to the fact that, on average, only three in ten are willing to believe that the outcome of the lottery was rigged, but most believe that Stern was capable of a lot, especially in not the best years for the NBA. One successful agent told me in an interview, “I can imagine Stern tweaking the lottery. So, did it work? He saved the league."

Only one person knows the truth, and 30 years later he finally agreed to discuss those events. Initially, we arranged a face-to-face meeting, even thinking about going up to the Starlight Roof club again, but everything had to be canceled - Stern remains a busy man, even in retirement. He currently runs communications and venture capital firm DJS Global Advisors and advises the NBA on various marketing matters. I had to interview by phone.

At first, Stern stated that he did not remember the details of the events of 30 years ago, but as the interview progressed, details began to emerge: he explained why he created the lottery (“It was too tempting to tank”) and the decision-making process (“We did not conduct any analysis, they just decided to throw the envelopes into the drum”), and also laughed at his behavior that day (“I was very nervous - in those years I had no experience with television yet”). He claims he didn't even consider the implications of a potential Knicks win ("We were just trying not to screw it up") and refuses to take credit for the continued success of the draft lottery ("We barely had a plan"). When I quoted his famous phrase, “If only they spelled the name of the league correctly,” Stern burst out laughing and replied, “It can be seen that I was already a smart guy then.”

Talk of conspiracy theories was inevitable. Over the past 30 years, Stern has taught us to be unpredictable when answering questions like this, occasionally joking (“We still have the money from the Great Train Robbery,” he once told CBS’ Ian Eagle), sometimes waving irritably (as in an interview Harvey Eraton of The New York Times in 2012, when he exclaimed "That's just ridiculous!"), or put on a real show (as in a conversation with Jim Rome in 2012, when Stern replied "I will give Dfv answer and ask my own question. The answer is no. The question is, are you not ashamed to ask such a thing yourself? "; when Roma continued to insist on questions, Stern snapped: "Have you stopped beating your wife - yes or no?").

Recalling that incident, Stern says, "I asked him if he had stopped beating his wife to let him know what it was like to answer a no-win question beforehand." Perhaps it's because Stern is no longer directly involved in the NBA, but he seems to be taking the subject more lightly. So I ask him an interesting question - what if all these conspiracy theories play into the hands of the league? If we know the final answer to our questions - was Jordan really asked to leave the league in 1993 and did Stern rig the 19 draft lottery?85, then we will stop showing interest. But it is so important for us to believe in the possibility of such events. We also need excuses - we need to believe that everything was set up, otherwise we have to deal with the fact that maybe - maybe - our favorite team is not so good at all. After all, mythology is one of the driving forces behind the sport. There is no doubt that many began to watch the broadcast of the lottery in 1986 to see if anything suspicious was going to happen. And so it was every year. What if that was Stern's idea - to pique people's interest without giving them answers?

There was silence on the other end of the line, and then Stern, to my surprise, replied, “Absolutely. The mythology covers everything, even the fans' belief that their team lost because of the judges' prejudice. It became one of our lures, as was the question of whether we disqualified Jordan." With his answer, the former commission agent reminded me of what he talked about shortly before - people like this kind of dramaturgy. What if Stern's theatrical performance didn't happen on stage at the Starlight Roof on the 18th floor of the Waldorf Astoria on May 12, 1985 years, and lasted for 30 years?

Was the outcome of the lottery rigged? Probably not. And most likely, we will never get our answer. This is exactly what David Stern wanted.

What is the salary of Bill Laimbeer?

Laimbeer's highest career salary was $1.5 million in 1990 by the Pistons. This is the same as earning about 3 million dollars for the season right now
...
Bill Limebeer Net Worth.

Net Worth: $13 million
Gender: M
Occupation: Trainer
Nationality: United States of America

Likewise, how much is Isaiah Thomas' newbie card worth? Isaiah Thomas #1091986 Flir

Sale date ▲ ▼ Name ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ Price
2021-11-24 ISIAH THOMAS Fleer ROOKIE 1986 Basketball Card No. 109 Detroit Pistons PSA 7 NM $99.99
2021-11-20 1986/87 Flir #109 Isaiah Thomas RC PSA 7*6135 $95. 95
2021-11-09 1986 Fleer Basketball #109 Isaiah Thomas Pistons RC Rookie HOF PSA 7 NM $85.00

Are Bill Laimbeer and Isaiah Thomas friends? He always played tough, but almost never heard a good word about him from an opponent. Even his teammate and close friend, Isaiah Thomas , once said, "If I didn't know Bill, I wouldn't like him either." Why was he so hated? He voiced his opinion during his playing days, but it is much more than his beliefs.

Also, how much was Wilt Chamberlain worth at the time of his death?

Wilt Chamberlain Net Worth: Wilt Chamberlain was an American basketball player worth $90,143 $10 million 90,144 at the time of his death.

How much is the 1990 Isaiah Thomas card?

Isaiah Thomas Basketball Trading Card Meanings

1983 All-Star Game #11 Isaiah Thomas $12.53
1990 Panini Stickers #F Isaiah Thomas $2. 03
1990 SkyBox #93 Isaiah Thomas $0.34
1991 Flir #64 Isaiah Thomas $0.34
1991 Fleer Schoolyard #2 Isaiah Thomas $0.34

How much is rookie Scottie Pippen worth? The value of Scottie Pippen's Rookie card will vary. Between $1 and $1500 depending on which version you are considering and what its condition is.

How much is Chris Webber's rookie card? Chris Webber #1 1993 classic

Sale date ▲ ▼ Name ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ Price
2020-11-27 1993 Classic Chris Webber #1 ROOKIE Card RC PSA 10 Gem Mint $49.99
2020-08-19 1993 Classic Chris Webber GOLD Newbie Card BCCS Graded Slabbed 10 mint $19.98
2020-06-25 1993 classic CHRIS WEBBER #1 PSA 10 GEM MT $75. 23

Why is Bill Laimbeer so successful? Four-time All-Star Laimbeer became the 19th player in league history, score over 10,000 points and 10,000 rebounds . He had a special flair for defensive rebounding, and was able to land long shots and take free throws.

What is the net worth of Dr. Jay?

Julius Erving Net Worth: Julius Erving is a retired American basketball player and current entrepreneur with a net worth of $ $50 million .
...
Julius Erving Net Worth.

Net Worth: $50 million
Height: 6 ft 6 in (2 m)
Occupation: Basketball player, Actor
Nationality: United States of America

How much is Kobe Bryant worth? Kobe Bryant died on January 26, 2020 at the age of 41 in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and 7 other passengers. His net worth at the time of his death was about $600 million .

How much are Charles Barkley's cards worth?

Charles Barkley Basketball Trading Card Value

1985 JMS #4 Charles Barkley
1993 Topps #373 Charles Barkley $0.34
1993 Topps #393 Charles Barkley $0.34
1993 Topps Gold #1 Charles Barkley $0.41
1993 Topps Gold #104 Charles Barkley $0.34

How much is Patrick Ewing's rookie card worth? Patrick Ewing # 32 1986 Flier

Sale date ▲ ▼ Name ▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ Price
2021-11-09 1986 FLEER BASKETBALL #32 PATRICK EWING RC ROOKIE KNICKS PSA 9NEW $560.00
2021-11-09 1986 Fleer #32 Patrick Ewing Rookie PSA 9 Card NEW $525. 00
2021-11-08 1986 Fleer Basketball #32 Patrick Ewing Knicks RC Rookie HOF PSA 9 NEW $455.00

Which basketball cards cost money?

Guide to the 52 Most Valuable Basketball Cards

  • 1948 Bowman #69 George Mikan. …
  • 1957 Topps #77 Bill Russell. …
  • 1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan. …
  • 1980 Topps Larry Bird / Julius Erving / Magic Johnson. …
  • 1969 Topps #25 Lew Alcindor (Karim Abdul-Jabbar) Rookie card. …
  • 1961 Flir No. 8 Wilt Chamberlain. …
  • Sticker Prism Jewel 1985 Michael Jordan.

How much is Dennis Rodman's card?

Dennis Rodman Basketball Trading Card Value

1988 Fleer #43 Dennis Rodman $25.53
1992 Topps #137 Dennis Rodman $0.34
1992 Topps Gold #117 Dennis Rodman $0.34
1992 Topps Gold #137 Dennis Rodman $1. 35
1992 Ultra All NBA Team #11 Dennis Rodman $1.52

How much is Dennis Rodman's rookie card? Dennis Rodman #43 1988 Flier

Sale date Title ▲ ▼ Price
2021-12-27 1988 Fleer Dennis Rodman #43 Rookie Basketball Card #43 $25.00
2021-12-27 1988-89 Fleer #43 DENNIS RODMAN NM RC Rookie Detroit Pistons Basketball #43 $36.00
2021-12-27 1988 Fleer Dennis Rodman #43 Rookie Basketball Card #43 $19.99

How much is Troy Aikman's newbie card worth? Troy Aikman Novice Cards

Item Name ▼ Price
TROY EIKEMAN 1989 PRO SET BEGINNER CARD DALLAS COWBOYS $9.95
Troy Aikman 1989 Topps #70T Dallas Rookie SGC NM/MT+ Football Card $89. 99
TROY AIKMAN 1990 Topps Super Rookie Card RC #482 Dallas Cowboys NFL like new $5.00
TROY AIKMAN cowboys 1989 Topps Traded #70T Rookie Card RC $1.00

How much does the Alonzo Mourning beginner card cost?

Tip:

Name Supply PSA 10
Alonzo Mourning #393 [RC] Topps (1992) Topps (Basketball) $33.35
Alonzo Mourning #2 [RC] 1992 All Rookie Hoops Magic (Basketball) $109.28
Alonzo mourning # 60 1992 Classic Draft Pick (Basketball) $30.00
Alonzo Mourning [Precious] # 226 1996 Metal (Basketball)

How much is the Reggie Miller card? Hint:

Name Supply PSA 10
Reggie Miller #24 Topps (1997) Topps (Basketball) $34. 99
Reggie Miller # 341 Upper Deck (1996) Upper Deck (Basketball) $47.92
Reggie Miller # 187 Topps (1993) Topps (Basketball) $46.51
Reggie Miller #11 1992 Fleer Team Leaders (Basketball) $254.37

How much is the LeBron James rookie card worth?

See also

Collectors continue to search for rare and valuable LeBron James cards. Goldin Auctions set a new price record when the Upper Deck Exquisite Rookie Patch Autograph sold for over $2 million in 2003-04. The map received a rating of 9Bulgarian pounds.

What is the net worth of Dennis Rodmans? He was a multiple-time NBA All-Defensive First Team and NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. As of 2022, the net worth of Dennis Rodman is $,500 thousand USD .
...

Net Worth: 500 thousand US dollars
Date of birth: May 13, 1961
Country of origin: United States of America
Source of wealth: Professional NBA player
Last update: 2021

• November 30, 2021

Is Mark Aguirre a Hall of Famer?

Mark Aguirre: Honestly, Aguirre is a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame , but he's still waiting for his admission to the Hall, which really matters.


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