Josh Cohen’s Analysis (Jan. 26, 2014): Both the Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers, who ended up with the second overall pick in 1985, were tied for the worst record in the NBA that year. However, because the Pacers had defeated the Warriors in each of the two meetings that season, Golden State would have had the No. 1 overall pick if a draft lottery had not been implemented that year.
While Indiana selected Wayman Tisdale, who passed away in 2009 and was a solid role player throughout his career, Golden State chose Chris Mullin with the seventh overall pick. And though Mullin, from New York ironically and a forever icon at St. John’s, had a stellar NBA career, things would have been far different for the Warriors if they had secured Patrick Ewing.
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