NBA Lottery History: Most Bizarre Team Representatives

Appearances are everything.

In preparation for the NBA's lottery pool, each participating team is asked to send a representative.

Most teams send someone with some pull in the locker room like a coach or player. Others, though, sometimes send a member of the front office, such as a general manager or the owner themselves. There are even those who have neglected to send anyone at all in a few instances.

On rare occasions, certain teams have historically taken a step outside the box, sending "colorful" representatives, implementing tactics we never saw coming.

And these are their stories.

Margie Parilo, Sacramento Kings 2008

The Maloof brothers took a Post-it suggestion from one of their season-ticket holders and opened a contest where the winning fan would get to represent the Kings at the 2008 NBA draft lottery.

Season-ticket-holder Margie Parilo beat out five other finalists to win the honors. She attended the lottery and got to sit right next to Larry Bird, whom she was a big fan of.

Unfortunately for Parilo and the rest of Sacramento, luck wasn't exactly on their side, as it was the Bulls who won the lottery and the rights to select Derrick Rose despite only having a 1.7 percent chance of doing so.

We often criticize the Maloof brothers for the way they run their team, but this was truly a spectacular idea. Let's face it, the less involved they are with the Kings, the better.

Nick Gilbert, Cleveland Cavaliers 2011

All the way to our left, David Kahn can barely watch as a 14-year-old Nick Gilbert, the son of Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, raises his arm in triumph.

Cleveland had just jumped past Minnesota for the first pick overall in last year's draft, and Kahn was beside himself. In fact, he even indirectly accused the NBA of rigging the lottery.

Whether the Cavaliers were actually hoping the younger Gilbert would bring good fortune or truly sent him there to promote awareness for the Children's Tumor foundation is irrelevant. This kid stood in a room amongst men, and beat them.

Sending his son was a bizarre tactic indeed—if it was one—but it is set to become somewhat of an annual occasion, as Nick will once again be on stage to represent the Cavs at this year's lottery.

Imagine how bizarre this story becomes if he nets Cleveland the first pick again, though...

Irene Pollin, Washington Wizards 2010

Irene Pollin, the widow of former Wizards owner Abe Pollin, represented Washington at 2010 lottery.

After years of disconcerting drafts, the Wizards struck gold with Pollins on stage.

Washington had just a 10.3 percent chance of landing the first overall pick, but the ping-pong balls still fell in their favor. They won the lottery and drafted John Wall, the rest is history, though not exactly the good kind.

Pollin, donning a 1978 Bullets championship ring for good luck, ensured that her family, specifically her husband, left an everlasting, albeit unconventional, mark on the Wizards organization.

It's heartwarming and slightly strange at the same time.

Adrienne Maloof, Sacramento Kings 2012

There will be no lottery-representation contest in Sacramento, as the Maloof brothers have decided to exude nepotism instead.

Representing the Kings at this year's lottery will be Adrienne Maloof, sister to the owners and star of the Real Housewives of Orange County reality show.

Apparently, milking the most out of a walking underdog story in Isaiah Thomas just won't suffice. Sending an F-list reality star, though, just might give the Kings that intangible edge they so desperately crave.

There were so many other avenues Sacramento could have explored here, yet somehow, the Maloofs opt for the one that makes the least amount of sense.

Here's to hoping her role as a lottery representative lands Adrienne some sort of shoe deal.

Jay-Z, New Jersey Nets 2008

Jay-Z owns a little over one percent of the Brooklyn-bound Nets, which is apparently more than enough to earn him a seat at the NBA draft lottery.

Jay-Z represented the Nets in 2008, when they obtained the 10th overall pick in the draft. He was smiling from ear-to-ear the entire time and appeared to be more excited than the season-ticket holder that was representing the Kings at the lottery.

While the selection in question turned into center Brook Lopez, we will only remember 2008 as the year Jay-Z took the lottery stage by storm.

If only the Lakers had sent Justin Timberlake...

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