The Pelicans "became the center of the NBA universe" last night by "pulling off an improbable win" in the NBA Draft Lottery to score the top pick, presumed to be Zion Williamson (THEADVOCATE.com, 5/14). The night "could not have played out better" for Pelicans Exec VP/Basketball Operations David Griffin, who was hired last month (N.Y. TIMES, 5/15). With a "new man in charge" in Griffin and Owner Gayle Benson "committed to giving him the resources he needs to succeed, landing Williamson really could be this franchise's moment" (NOLA.com, 5/14). In the hours immediately after the Lottery through 1:00am CT, the Pelicans "took orders for approximately 2,000 new season tickets, twice as many as they did after earning the No. 1 pick in 2012 (Anthony Davis)" (TWITTER.com, 5/15).
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry, who was repping the team at the Lottery in Chicago, "leapt out of his chair and let out an F-bomb" when his team landed the No. 1 pick. Gentry: "I probably overreacted a little bit. I probably said a word I shouldn't have. It was raw emotion" (USA TODAY, 5/15). Gentry "stood up ... and just started running around high-fiving all the people behind him, and everybody loved it" (“NBA Draft Lottery,” ESPN, 5/14). The coach "kept his cool enough not to mention Williamson by name, which is a no-no" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/15).
