Throwback Thursday: Knicks win 1985 draft lottery

It is the root of most NBA conspiracy theories, and it occurred 31 years ago on May 12, 1985. On that day, the New York Knicks - with the third-worst record in the league that season - won the draft lottery, and the right to select Georgetown center Patrick Ewing at No. 1.

The fact it meant a superstar-in-the-making would be coming to New York City ultimately unleashed a torrent of hypotheses, the most popular being that commissioner David Stern was able to locate the Knicks' card by virtue of a "frozen envelope."

Stern, naturally, has denied this strenuously.

While Ewing went on to have a Hall of Fame career, the Knicks' NBA championship drought - which sat at 12 years in 1985 - is now 43 years and counting. For fun, here is a list of Knickerbocker draft selections, paying close attention to those after 1985.