It had been a long while since the Golden State Warriors were present for the NBA Draft Lottery, having gone to five straight NBA Finals and reaping the fruits of their prior draft success. On Thursday, it was Stephen Curry representing the organization instead of owner Joe Lacob, the man many across the league have known as “Joey Light Years” for his futuristic approach and arduous ambition for more NBA titles.
So why wasn't Lacob the one present at the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery and why was it Curry representing the Warriors?
The lottery took place virtually, so logistics wouldn't have played a part in that decision. As it turns out, Warriors brass initially asked Lacob if he wanted to make a cameo for the team's first lottery appearance since drafting Harrison Barnes in 2012.
ESPN's Zach Lowe documented the response:
Lacob told them, semi-facetiously: “I don't do lotteries. I do championships.”
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne asked Lacob about that cheeky line quickly after, and the owner knew where the conversation was headed:
“This is gonna be like the ‘light years' thing,” said Lacob. “I did say that. But when you're in last place, you shouldn't really have much to say.”
As for how they landed on Curry, the Warriors talisman had asked the brass that they consult backcourt mate Klay Thompson first. Apparently, he declined.
As for the “good luck charm” that Curry mentioned during the ESPN broadcast, that's Larry — as in Larry O' Brien Lacob — a chihuahua Joe Lacob named after the coveted NBA trophy.
Here's a closer look at the pup:
Larry was one of 100 pets the Miami Heat and Warriors helped relocate to the Bay Area when Hurricane Irma hit South Florida in 2017. His purpose, as the video above tells, was finally realized when the Warriors earned the No. 2 overall selection.
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