National Basketball Association

Stern: 'Fair chance' Prokhorov at lottery for Nets

Published Apr. 23, 2010 12:45 a.m. ET

foxsports

David Stern thinks Mikhail Prokhorov's first role with the New Jersey Nets could be lucky charm.

The NBA commissioner says he believes there is a ``fair chance'' the Russian billionaire will represent the Nets at next month's draft lottery.

Prokhorov is waiting for his purchase of the Nets to be approved, which the league expects will happen sometime in mid-May. If it is finalized before the May 18 lottery, perhaps Prokhorov would take a seat on the stage in nearby Secaucus, N.J.

Speaking to a meeting of Associated Press Sports Editors on Thursday, Stern said: ``If I had to guess, I think there's a fair chance he'll be representing the Nets at the lottery.''

The league-worst Nets have a 25 percent chance of winning the lottery and landing the No. 1 overall pick.