Spurs are the luckiest draft lottery team in all of sports.

[spursistan]

Don't let Adam Silver rigging Cooper Flagg for the Mavs distract you from the fact that we are the absolute luckiest bastards of NBA lottery :lol..


We have never moved down in like 8 lottery trips while moving up the last 3 years to the tune of #1, #4, #2 picks after drafting 2 generational bigmen in D Rob & Duncan

[Russ]

Moving up three years in a row.

That is probably unprecedented.

[tonski117]

Who would you like the spurs would pick at number 2? Or trade it?

[spursistan]

Not really mad about missing out on Flagg. i frankly think he's been grossly overrated as prospect. He is certainly not on Lebron/Wemby pedestal, but i am not sure he is as good of prospect as, say, Anthony Davis and KAT.. But now imagine Spurs having straight path to Giannis.. We could easily be WCF/Finals team in 2026 if we want to.:lol

[spursistan]

Who would you like the spurs would pick at number 2? Or trade it?
I'm becoming open to making a move for Giannis in a package that includes it..Wemby's health prospects is the one thing that is nudging me to that direction: get a title or two in next 3-5 years with the second iteration of the Twin Towers (1997-2003) and then figure iout the second timeline later.

[NASpurs]

Holy shit, I didn't know the draft position was tonight and didn't know we're drafting second.

I'm so out of the loop :lol

[stnick2261]

crap… I just went to ESPN to watch the lottery and realized I missed it!

[TDomination]

Holy shit, I didn't know the draft position was tonight and didn't know we're drafting second.

I'm so out of the loop :lol

seriously same here

[Jordan Jackson]

Starting to believe this stuff is being manipulated. But it keeps benefiting the Spurs so it’s hard to complain.

Spurs now have more than enough to build a pretty good potential dynasty. Unbelievable.

[exstatic]

This is reminiscent of the 3 year run of Seattle/OKC consecutive drafts where they picked 2,4,3 and got Durant, Harden, and Westbrook.

[spursistan]

This is reminiscent of the 3 year run of Seattle/OKC consecutive drafts where they picked 2,4,3 and got Durant, Harden, and Westbrook.
This was exactly my thought a couple of weeks ago.. With health related luck and good roster management, this should be a perennial WCF/Finals team for the next 8-10 years like those 2010-2016 OKC teams


Great stuff


Having a nearly 30% chance at one of the pick ending up Top 4 is pretty solid odds for the opportunity to have the best 3-year drafting run since OKC pulled off KD-Russ-Harden in 2007/2008/2009

[spursistan]

Giannis is enticing, but knowing PATFO, they will roll with the OKC model with Wemby-Castle-Harper as their new era, homegrown Big3..

[Uriel]

FWIW, the Spurs' chances of getting at least the #1, #4, and #2 picks in the past 3 years given their pre-draft lottery odds was 0.7%.

[skin27]

Never reailized spurs ang picking at number 2 lmao

[Dex]

For the people who were complaining that the Spurs were losing games after Wemby went down, saying the others guy should step up and make the play-in...

THIS is what the pay-off can be. Even with low odds.

[LeBowen]

For the people who were complaining that the Spurs were losing games after Wemby went down, saying the others guy should step up and make the play-in...

THIS is what the pay-off can be. Even with low odds.

But can we agree to never do it again? :lol

[Dex]

But can we agree to never do it again? :lol

As long as our franchise player doesn't go down again, yes. :tu

[spursistan]

But can we agree to never do it again? :lol
Oh yeah, this better be our last lottery trip for long time..I said it above, we essentially got our KD/Westbrook/Harden 3-year draft run. Anything less than an immediate Western Conference powerhouse as end result of this rebuild is a compete organizational failure..

PS. jusy saw your lottery preference rank, i feel bad for the jazz..ngl :lol

[Obstructed_View]

Oh yeah, this better be our last lottery trip for long time..I said it above, we essentially got our KD/Westbrook/Harden 3-year draft run. Anything less than an immediate Western Conference powerhouse as end result of this rebuild is a compete organizational failure..

PS. jusy saw your lottery preference rank, i feel bad for the jazz..ngl :lol
I moved to San Antonio in 1991. The Spurs either won 50 games a year or won the lottery for 25 straight years. The lottery is the pits compared to making the playoffs.

[LeBowen]

Oh yeah, this better be our last lottery trip for long time..I said it above, we essentially got our KD/Westbrook/Harden 3-year draft run. Anything less than an immediate Western Conference powerhouse as end result of this rebuild is a compete organizational failure..

PS. jusy saw your lottery preference rank, i feel bad for the jazz..ngl :lol

I kind of feel bad for the Wizards.
Jazz got the 5th pick and Ainge will eventually figure something out. They were planning to tank another season, anyway.
But Wizards dropped all the way to 6th and they don't have much to work with.

[timtonymanu]

Well, time to make it amount to something and aim for the playoffs. Just get this stupid playoff drought out of the way.

[spursistan]

I kind of feel bad for the Wizards.
Jazz got the 5th pick and Ainge will eventually figure something out. They were planning to tank another season, anyway.
But Wizards dropped all the way to 6th and they don't have much to work with.
Conference talent imbalance is becoming more staggering with each draft. Tatum's blown Achilles provides another twist. Giannis should push to get traded but stay in the East and KD should move back there. If you want to ring just avoid the bloodbath out West for the forseaable future.

[Racspur1]

Giannis is enticing, but knowing PATFO, they will roll with the OKC model with Wemby-Castle-Harper as their new era, homegrown Big3..

Nope , Sam Presti is still learning from the master " El Jefe "

[Dod01]

Starting to believe this stuff is being manipulated. But it keeps benefiting the Spurs so it’s hard to complain.

Spurs now have more than enough to build a pretty good potential dynasty. Unbelievable.

Would definitely prefer if the draft was fair, but a good/great Spurs team is great for the league and are a big draw on the road.

They consistently filled up arenas on their playoff/championship run 2003-2019. The NBA has seen and knows this. They are probably salivating at Spurs-Lakers playoff matchups. Packed bar and grills throughout the country, etc.

The brainwashed trendy/mainstream NBA demographic can say all they want about the Spurs, think they are uncool, etc., but when they were good on that run, they sold out opposing venues with ease. If the draft has been rigged in our favor, this is basically why the NBA would do it.

[baseline bum]

This was exactly my thought a couple of weeks ago.. With health related luck and good roster management, this should be a perennial WCF/Finals team for the next 8-10 years like those 2010-2016 OKC teams

OKC is going to be such a bastard to have to go through for the next 8-10 years. Really hope Vegas and Seattle hurry the fuck up and get their teams and the NBA moves us back to the eastern conference to manufacture a Lakers-Celtics kind of rivalry with OKC.

[baseline bum]

But can we agree to never do it again? :lol

Hopefully ATL goes down in flames in 26 and 27 and we get to do these lotteries with just their picks. Too bad the Dallas 30 swap just lost a ton of value with Flagg going there, but can't complain when you get the #2 pick out of it.

[Seventyniner]

Hopefully ATL goes down in flames in 26 and 27 and we get to do these lotteries with just their picks. Too bad the Dallas 30 swap just lost a ton of value with Flagg going there, but can't complain when you get the #2 pick out of it.

Now I want the Hawks to miss the playoffs again and jump to #3 so the Spurs can complete the 4-year quadfecta.

[baseline bum]

Now I want the Hawks to miss the playoffs again and jump to #3 so the Spurs can complete the 4-year quadfecta.

Nah man #1 and get AJ Dybantsa who is a Spurs fan and went to Paris to watch the team.

[Ice009]

Would definitely prefer if the draft was fair, but a good/great Spurs team is great for the league and are a big draw on the road.

They consistently filled up arenas on their playoff/championship run 2003-2019. The NBA has seen and knows this. They are probably salivating at Spurs-Lakers playoff matchups. Packed bar and grills throughout the country, etc.

The brainwashed trendy/mainstream NBA demographic can say all they want about the Spurs, think they are uncool, etc., but when they were good on that run, they sold out opposing venues with ease. If the draft has been rigged in our favor, this is basically why the NBA would do it.

Didn't know the Spurs routinely used to sell out other team's arenas. You think that because of the players we had (and maybe international fan base?), or was that because the other team's fans wanted their team to beat the Spurs?


OKC is going to be such a bastard to have to go through for the next 8-10 years. Really hope Vegas and Seattle hurry the fuck up and get their teams and the NBA moves us back to the eastern conference to manufacture a Lakers-Celtics kind of rivalry with OKC.

Were the Spurs once in the Eastern Conference, or are you just saying they'd have to be moved there to balance out the conferences if/when the NBA adds teams in Seattle and Las Vegas?


Nah man #1 and get AJ Dybantsa who is a Spurs fan and went to Paris to watch the team.

Darn, is he that big of a Spurs fan he went to the two Paris games? He wasn't already there for something else?

[baseline bum]

Were the Spurs once in the Eastern Conference, or are you just saying they'd have to be moved there to balance out the conferences if/when the NBA adds teams in Seattle and Las Vegas?


Spurs started out in the Eastern Conference after the merger but got moved to the west for the 1980-81 season.


Darn, is he that big of a Spurs fan he went to the two Paris games? He wasn't already there for something else?

Not sure if he went to both but was shown at one of them and he said outright he wants to play on either the Spurs or Magic. Wild that before Flagg reclassified Dybantsa was the higher rated prospect in their class.

[Dod01]

Didn't know the Spurs routinely used to sell out other team's arenas. You think that because of the players we had (and maybe international fan base?), or was that because the other team's fans wanted their team to beat the Spurs?

Don't know if you're being sarcastic, but to answer the question, it was of course both. But to consistently fill up opposing arenas the way the Spurs did, it was definitely more that fans wanted to see their team play the Spurs.

All you had to do was pay attention to the games on TV all those years to notice the clearly packed arenas, etc, when the Spurs came to town. Saw it with my own two eyes all the time on their televised games. They just had that aura. Hard to explain, but the simple of it is yes, they wanted see their team play/beat the Spurs.

I can't really speak on 1999-2001, as I wasn't really paying full attention to the Spurs and NBA around that time. I started following them right at the beginning of the 2002-2003 season. You could really start to notice this phenomenon once they won their third championship in 2005.

[spursistan]

OKC is going to be such a bastard to have to go through for the next 8-10 years. Really hope Vegas and Seattle hurry the fuck up and get their teams and the NBA moves us back to the eastern conference to manufacture a Lakers-Celtics kind of rivalry with OKC.
Think after landing this #2 pick and combined with OKC missing out on Philly's Top 6 protected, we are about as well set up as The Thunder for the forseable future. It is pretty wild where we are now as a franchise considering how bleak things looked after the Kawhi trade and the ensuing years of treadmill mediocrity. From having 100-page threads discussing Joshua Primo sexual peccadilloes and its impact on the team future to standing here and having the luxury to field the best offer for Giannis and form Twin Towers 2.0 all while still maintaining potential premium picks going forward.

[szkorhetz]

Starting to believe this stuff is being manipulated. But it keeps benefiting the Spurs so it’s hard to complain.

Spurs now have more than enough to build a pretty good potential dynasty. Unbelievable.
It is rigged, for sure.

[Dod01]

It is rigged, for sure.

:lol

[spursistan]

https://x.com/WizardsMuse1/status/1922069503287927189
https://x.com/big_business_/status/1922075127031676998

Imagine having to go through this for only a shit sandwich at the draft lottery .:lol

We are a truly blessed fanbase :toast.

[spursistan]

The second part is really diabolical if you are a Jazz fan.

https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1921944106990711117

[timtonymanu]

Teams like the Wizards, Jazz and Hornets are terrible franchises. Guys like Flagg and Harper would just waste away on those teams.

[TD 21]

Definitely lottery wise and obviously the good luck overall outweighs the bad luck, but they've had far more of the latter than any other highly successful franchise I can think of.

From the myriad "heartbreaking" playoff losses that derailed contending seasons, to constant injuries of young star/core players, to atypical things like the Leonard saga, it was relatively minor but the Bertans giveaway/Morris reneging, the Primo fiasco, Pop's health (I know he's old, but still).

[LeBowen]

Definitely lottery wise and obviously the good luck overall outweighs the bad luck, but they've had far more of the latter than any other highly successful franchise I can think of.

From the myriad "heartbreaking" playoff losses that derailed contending seasons, to constant injuries of young star/core players, to atypical things like the Leonard saga, it was relatively minor but the Bertans giveaway/Morris reneging, the Primo fiasco, Pop's health (I know he's old, but still).

Don't be entitled, ffs.
Spurs earned their luck by having competent people in charge, but the only real misfortune we suffered since '97 draft was not being able to defend the title in '00 and nephew ruining everything in '17.
Yeah, '13 sucked, but that was just basketball, we ran it back and won next year.

Then you look at all the franchises that had competent people, but something always went wrong before they could even get to those heartbreaking losses.

[spurraider21]

Teams like the Wizards, Jazz and Hornets are terrible franchises. Guys like Flagg and Harper would just waste away on those teams.
some of that is a self fulfilling prophecy

[spurs1990]

Zach Lowe was in the room and shared the lottery combination sheet in this video.
Evidently, when the final ball was about to be drawn, San Antonio had 3 winning numbers out of the remaining 11 digits (27.2% odds) - only team with multiple chances on the final number .

Spurs were that close to getting Flagg

https://youtu.be/dipYubphNXY?si=m67f6T6tO_8TOUtB&t=1425

[John B]

Spurs got 3 #1 picks and they were decade(s) apart. Other teams have more and closely together and better chance of developing a great young core like CAVS with 2003 LeBron, 2011 Kyrie, 2013 Bennett, and 2014 Wiggins but only converted 1 ring off that. PHI had b2 in Simmons and Fultz, and 3rd pick Embiid, nada ring. It’s how you play the cards you’re dealt. And obviously the Spurs play poker while the rest are passing the time playing solitaire. I won’t say it’s luck.

[Ice009]

Zach Lowe was in the room and shared the lottery combination sheet in this video.
Evidently, when the final ball was about to be drawn, San Antonio had 3 winning numbers out of the remaining 11 digits (27.2% odds) - only team with multiple chances on the final number .

Spurs were that close to getting Flagg

https://youtu.be/dipYubphNXY?si=m67f6T6tO_8TOUtB&t=1425

F$#K.

[exstatic]

F$#K.

It all evens out. For the Wemby lottery, after the first 3 balls, the Wizards had 9 of the remaining 11 balls, and the Spurs had one. I’d much rather win that lottery, and finish second here than vice versa.

[scott]

I kind of feel bad for the Wizards.
Jazz got the 5th pick and Ainge will eventually figure something out. They were planning to tank another season, anyway.
But Wizards dropped all the way to 6th and they don't have much to work with.

I low key kind of love the Queen fit for the Wizards. Baltimore born-and-raised, went to Maryland, so the hometown kid comes in and I think the rest of the lineup kind of fits around him.

Bub
Poole
Bilal
Sarr
Queen

Some bench pieces in Middleton, Kispert, Bey, Kyshawn George, AJ Johnson, and Champagnie...

This team isn't going to contend, but I think it's got some interesting moldable pieces.

I think WAS should go for the "we're trying but still tanking" tank job next year and maybe luck into one of those 3 big time prospects next draft. Poole will be an expiring next summer and finally moveable, you'll have another season to see which of these young kids are worth anything.

I don't totally hate WAS's prospects going forward.

I do... however, think Zion would look good in a Wizards jersey...

[scott]

Nah man #1 and get AJ Dybantsa who is a Spurs fan and went to Paris to watch the team.

Honestly, AJ might be available at 3... gonna be a fun year seeing the Peterson/AJ/Boozer race to be the top prospect.

[exstatic]

Honestly, AJ might be available at 3... gonna be a fun year seeing the Peterson/AJ/Boozer race to be the top prospect.

That would be interesting after the last 3 drafts where there were two clear cut #1s, and a draft without a #1.

[scott]

That would be interesting after the last 3 drafts where there were two clear cut #1s, and a draft without a #1.

For sure. The lead up to the Paolo/Chet/Jabari draft was kind of fun with the uncertainty (though Jabari clearly didn't belong in the conversation)... could be a fun 2026 draft lead up... hopefully we're only talking about it because of ATL.

[CGD]

F$#K.

Its ok, it was the exact opposite when we landed Wemby.

[spurraider21]

Zach Lowe was in the room and shared the lottery combination sheet in this video.
Evidently, when the final ball was about to be drawn, San Antonio had 3 winning numbers out of the remaining 11 digits (27.2% odds) - only team with multiple chances on the final number .

Spurs were that close to getting Flagg

https://youtu.be/dipYubphNXY?si=m67f6T6tO_8TOUtB&t=1425
evidently each of those 3 combinations that could have won Flagg was from... the hawks pick, not our own. meaning we were actually very close to having #1 and #2

[Seventyniner]

evidently each of those 3 combinations that could have won Flagg was from... the hawks pick, not our own. meaning we were actually very close to having #1 and #2

2 of the 3 were from the Hawks slot. The first three balls were 10/11/14. A 12 or 13 on the final ball would have been the Hawks slot, while a 6 (or was it 5?) would have been the Spurs slot.

Any time the big numbers are drawn, the likelihood that a team from the bottom of the lottery jumps goes up.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Hawks slot had 6 of the 1001 combinations: 9/11/13/14, 9/12/13/14, 10/11/12/13, 10/11/12/14, 10/11/13/14, 10/12/13/14. The 11/12/13/14 is the 1001st combo that results in a redraw.

[Kevin]

It all evens out. For the Wemby lottery, after the first 3 balls, the Wizards had 9 of the remaining 11 balls, and the Spurs had one. I’d much rather win that lottery, and finish second here than vice versa.

I believe the Wizards had six of the remaining 11 balls if I am not mistaken. All remaining teams had one ball left.

[spurs1990]

evidently each of those 3 combinations that could have won Flagg was from... the hawks pick, not our own. meaning we were actually very close to having #1 and #2

Wow didn't even realize San Antonio still would have the 2nd pick too on the next drawing - so yah Flagg and Harper if 5,12, or 13 came up :spin
The league would implode - every other fan would be livid at that result

Last Ball - 1st pick winner
1 Was
2 NO
3 Brk
4 Tor
5 Spurs
6 Por
7 Mavs
8 Chi
9 Sac
12 Spurs
13 Spurs

[spursistan]

Sure Spurs have been blessed when it comes to the 'quality' of their Top 4 picks (mainly Duncan. D-Rob, Wemby), but that's not an excuse for other franchises to continue to suck for years. Just look at how Pacers managed to successfully rebuild with only one TOP 6 pick on their roster (Mathurin) and compare to what Philly or Charlotte have done after serially tanking the past decade.

https://x.com/spurs_muse/status/1922322444150562841
https://x.com/Underdog/status/1925528055260307958

[exstatic]

Sure Spurs have been blessed when it comes to the 'quality' of their Top 4 picks (mainly Duncan. D-Rob, Wemby), but that's not an excuse for other franchises to continue to suck for years. Just look at how Pacers managed to successfully rebuild with only one TOP 6 pick on their roster (Mathurin) and compare to what Philly or Charlotte have done after serially tanking the past decade.

https://x.com/spurs_muse/status/1922322444150562841
https://x.com/Underdog/status/1925528055260307958

The lucky part is winning in the RIGHT years.

[spursistan]

The lucky part is winning in the RIGHT years.
Also, with Castle there is a strong potential you're going to have to credit drafting acumen if he ends up being the best player of his class. Nailing a consensus 'weak draft' is one the hardest things to do..

[LeBowen]

Also, with Castle there is a strong potential you're going to have to credit drafting acumen if he ends up being the best player of his class. Nailing a consensus 'weak draft' is one the hardest things to do..

Tbf, Castle was an easy pick from Spurs perspective.
It would've been more impressive if we had the #1 pick and still went with Castle.
He was a no-brainer at #4.
Holland was obviously a player Spurs wouldn't even have considered and the rest of the draft was garbage, as evidenced by the #8 trade.

Spurs have always been really good with late FRPs, but lottery picks outside top5 have been disappointing.
Hopefully they can get the right player this year.

[John B]

It’s not luck. It’s how you play the cards you’re dealt. Other teams have had multiple 1st, even closer apart, Cavs, Sixers. Pelicans had AD, Zion. I don’t blame health because Timmy played more than half of his career with a bad knee. It’s how Spurs managed his minutes, conditioning, etc and stretched Timmy’s career into 19 competitive years, never missing playoffs! We all know that. I don’t know if AD or Zion would’ve been healthier with the Spurs, maybe. But luck is just half of the equation. How you play your card after given the opportunity, is another.

[Ariel]

Wow didn't even realize San Antonio still would have the 2nd pick too on the next drawing - so yah Flagg and Harper if 5,12, or 13 came up :spin
The league would implode - every other fan would be livid at that result

Last Ball - 1st pick winner
1 Was
2 NO
3 Brk
4 Tor
5 Spurs
6 Por
7 Mavs
8 Chi
9 Sac
12 Spurs
13 Spurs


2 of the 3 were from the Hawks slot. The first three balls were 10/11/14. A 12 or 13 on the final ball would have been the Hawks slot, while a 6 (or was it 5?) would have been the Spurs slot.

Any time the big numbers are drawn, the likelihood that a team from the bottom of the lottery jumps goes up.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Hawks slot had 6 of the 1001 combinations: 9/11/13/14, 9/12/13/14, 10/11/12/13, 10/11/12/14, 10/11/13/14, 10/12/13/14. The 11/12/13/14 is the 1001st combo that results in a redraw.
Yeah, I ran a small program to test for the combinations given the above information and it checks out:


Comb #
Ball A
Ball B
Ball C
Ball D
Seed
Team


279
1
10
11
14
2
Washington


499
2
10
11
14
4
New Orleans


664
3
10
11
14
6
Brooklyn


784
4
10
11
14
7
Toronto


868
5
10
11
14
8
Spurs (own pick)


924
6
10
11
14
10
Portland


959
7
10
11
14
11
Dallas


979
8
10
11
14
12
Chicago


989
9
10
11
14
13
Sacramento (falls in protection)


998
10
11
12
14
14
Spurs (via Atlanta)


999
10
11
13
14
14
Spurs (via Atlanta)



So Spurs had 3 winning combinations, one of their own + 2 from Atlanta. One more small detail, I know most realize but if Spurs had gotten the first pick, that would not mean they'd have gotten no. 2 as well, a split second later by virtue of calling another team means balls are inserted at a different time and result changes. They'd have had the same chances as per the ball drawn (better if Atlanta's combinations were drawn).

Also, this means the league is running a very simple scheme where they assign contiguous combinations to the same team, this means balls are disproportionately assigned to the same teams (especially those at the top) so the lottery would be more vulnerable to being rigged. Odd that they don't shuffle the combinations to prevent this.

[Dex]

So of the five Top-4 picks so far (Robinson, Elliott, Duncan, Wemby, Castle)....4 won ROY, 2 were MVPs, 3 are champions (so far)

Pretty good track record.

[scott]

So of the five Top-4 picks so far (Robinson, Elliott, Duncan, Wemby, Castle)....4 won ROY, 2 were MVPs, 3 are champions (so far)

Pretty good track record.

Also, all of them except for Castle have been All Stars (and Robinson, Elliott and Duncan are all multiple-time All Stars). All retired players in this list have their jersey retired.

It truly is elite company. Spurs have done nothing but nail their Top 4 picks (though to be fair... each of the #1s were some of the biggest no brainers in history).

I'm not sure who we would have taken had Elliott not been available at #3. I'd hope Glen Rice, but maybe it would have been Danny Ferry. Interestingly, 3 of the Top 5 picks in the 1989 draft eventually played for the Spurs: Elliott, Ferry (#2) and JR Reid (#5). That was a good draft. No absolute GOATs, but lots of really fantastic players. Elliott, Rice, Nick Anderson, Mookie Blaylock, Tim Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, Vlade Divac, Cliff Robinson in round 2. Really nice class.

[Obstructed_View]

Its ok, it was the exact opposite when we landed Wemby.

And I think I said this elsewhere, but the Spurs hit on Timmy the first two times during that lottery.

[SouthernFried]

Too bad we have such a lousy coaching staff that can't make use of the talent.

smh

[Gagnrath]

Oh yeah, this better be our last lottery trip for long time..I said it above, we essentially got our KD/Westbrook/Harden 3-year draft run. Anything less than an immediate Western Conference powerhouse as end result of this rebuild is a compete organizational failure..

PS. jusy saw your lottery preference rank, i feel bad for the jazz..ngl :lol
I'm pretty ok with going to the lottery via the hawks and timberwolves picks in the next few years.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

It’s not luck. It’s how you play the cards you’re dealt. Other teams have had multiple 1st, even closer apart, Cavs, Sixers. Pelicans had AD, Zion. I don’t blame health because Timmy played more than half of his career with a bad knee. It’s how Spurs managed his minutes, conditioning, etc and stretched Timmy’s career into 19 competitive years, never missing playoffs! We all know that. I don’t know if AD or Zion would’ve been healthier with the Spurs, maybe. But luck is just half of the equation. How you play your card after given the opportunity, is another.

Zion would be pushing 500 pounds on a texmex whataburger diet

[buttsR4rebounding]

Not only getting a 1 and a 2 and a 4, but getting them in the best possible years for that combination. We could have ended up Amen/Rishaur/Edgecome if the it went 2 then 1 then 4.

[Seventyniner]

Not only getting a 1 and a 2 and a 4, but getting them in the best possible years for that combination. We could have ended up Amen/Rishaur/Edgecome if the it went 2 then 1 then 4.

Great point. If lottery luck was weighted by the quality of prospects available, the Spurs would be #1 by a mile.

The Rockets jumped into the top 4 in 4 consecutive years and ended with with Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard. Hardly a murderer's row.