Let’s get the tinfoil hats on, everyone! On Tuesday afternoon at 4:36 PM EST, just under three and a half hours before the NBA Draft Lottery is set to begin, Dikembe Mutombo congratulated the Philadelphia Sixers for winning the first pick in it. The former Sixers big man deleted the tweet shortly thereafter. The NBA, perhaps more than any other sport, is prone to conspiracy theories both with the draft and the games themselves. You only need to look at how the very first draft lottery in 1985 has been dissected from the moment the New York Knicks won the chance to select Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing to know this is a thing that will send people into a frenzy.
Mostly, because conspiracy theories are fun, but also look at all the similarities: The Knicks were bad in 1984. The Sixers were bad for a long time last year. Hubie Brown coached the Knicks in 1984, and Hubie Brown now works for ESPN, who will be airing the lottery tonight. Sam Hinkie used to work for the Sixers and that sounds very close to Hubie. Try it: Hinkie. Hubie. Hinkie Hubie. Hinkie. You get the idea.
Videos by VICE
Finally, where did Dikembe Mutombo go to college? GEORGETOWN. Did he ever play for the Knicks? YOU BET. And where did he finish his career? In Houston. Who was an assistant coach at that time? PATRICK EWING. I’m not saying the Sixers will get the first pick in the draft, but if they do it will be because of this.