15 best NBA Draft Lottery lucky charms

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 23: The 2011 Draft class including Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, Enes Kanter, Jonas Valanciunas, Brandon Knight, Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker pose for a group photo during the 2011 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 23, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

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SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 15: David Robinson /

4. Bolo tie, San Antonio Spurs

In recent years, Phillip Rivers has single-handedly brought back the bolo tie into the popular fashion lexicon. Before that, the bolo tie’s strongest connection to sports was the Spurs at the 1987 NBA Draft Lottery.

The Spurs did not have such great fortune prior to the Gregg Popovich era, including a 28-win season in 1987, their fourth consecutive year of failing to break the .500 mark. With just the fourth worst record, the Spurs needed some good luck to get the top pick in the 1987 NBA Draft for the opportunity to select a franchise player.

San Antonio fan Roberto Pachecano won a team sponsored lucky charm contest, and wore a bolo tie with an inlaid red chameleon and old iron spur on it for good luck. The charm worked perfectly, as the Spurs beat out the Phoenix Suns for the top pick.

With that pick, the Spurs selected Hall of Famer David Robinson, who went on to become one of the best players in NBA history. After sitting out two years for his Navy commitment, Robinson averaged 21.1 points per game for his career and led the Spurs to titles in 1999 and 2003 to kick off well over a decade of dominance for the franchise.

If Robinson had gone elsewhere, the landscape of NBA could have been drastically changed. One can only hope bolo ties make a comeback as a good luck charm.

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