On the evening of May 12, 1985, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on the 18th floor, the hopes of seven teams lay in unopened envelopes inside a transparent plastic drum.
The Waldorf Astoria had renovated its Starlight Roof, restoring the Art Deco style from when it opened in 1931, competing with industry rivals just like the NBA, which also needed something new.
The owners and general managers of the seven teams bathed in the luxurious atmosphere of the storied New York hotel, waiting for their teams' futures to be determined, marking the first time in NBA history.
This draft lottery event would be broadcast live on CBS, hosted by Pat O'Brien, with David Stern himself shaking the plastic drum, drawing the envelopes to decide the 1985 draft order.
