By Rick Horrow and Karla Swatek
May 17, 2013
One of the unique features of the NBA Draft relative to other pro sports leagues is the lottery, which deters teams from intentionally trying to get the worst record by not guaranteeing them the top pick. While the system is weighted to give the worst team the best chance at receiving the first selection, since 1990, only three teams with the worst record have actually won the lottery. This year, the Orlando Magic have the best odds of receiving the number one pick, expected to be either Kansas forward Ben McLemore or Kentucky center Nerlens Noel.
Whoever ultimately wins the NBA lottery should take a page from their NFL counterpart, the Kansas City Chiefs. After the Chiefs selected Eric Fisher with the first pick in last month’s NFL Draft, the team used video conferencing to let season ticket holders in Kansas City “interview” Fisher, who was in New York. With products like Citrix GoToMeeting with HDFaces for video conferencing, NBA teams should take a similar approach at the draft. Providing fans with a memorable experience like “interviewing” a new player will strengthen their loyalty to the team, thus increasing their lifetime value to the franchise.
