CHICAGO -- Ahead of this year's draft lottery, the New Orleans Pelicans held a contest for a season ticket holder to submit a lucky charm to wish their team luck.
The winner, Connie Hanphel, gave Pelicans executive Vice President of basketball operations David Griffin a 56-year-old wooden angel.
It turned out to be exactly what the Pelicans needed.
New Orleans leapt up from the seventh spot to the top of this year's draft Tuesday night, earning the right to take Zion Williamson in next month's NBA Draft. The Pelicans had just a six percent chance to win the lottery.