Just saw this regarding the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks; because of the Eric Bledso trade, there will flip a coin to determine the first-round draft order between the Bucks and the Miami Heat. The winner will get the 16th pick, loser the 17th.
Those of us of a certain age will recall a more memorable coin flip between the Suns and Milwaukee.
Back in 1969, there was no draft lottery (and no real talk about teams tanking). There were 14 teams, compared to 30 today. There were two divisions. Both clubs were expansion teams in the 1968-69 season, with Milwaukee posting a 27-55 record in the East to a 16-66 mark for Phoenix.
The top prize in the 1969 draft was UCLA center Lew Alcindor, who would change his name to Kareem Abdul Jabbar and become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
Phoenix called heads, the coin came up tails. Alcindor went to Milwaukee, and led them to their only NBA title in 1971 before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers a few seasons later.
Funny how fate can turn on a coin flip.
Wow, their one and only title (sorta) decided by a coin flip!
ReplyDeletePlus, the difference between 16 and 17 may seem negligible...but leading (along with Ben Simmons) Rookie of the Year candidate Donovan Mitchell was picked 13th by the Jazz last year. Also, future Los Angeles Lakers star Kyle Kuzma fell all the way to 27th - who will be this draft's breakouts??
true....appreciate the feedback!
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