Edmond Pastor Wins Trip to NBA Lottery Draft

An Edmond minister beat out thousands of fans to win a trip to the NBA draft lottery contest in New York.

Monday, May 11th 2009, 7:06 pm

By: News 9


By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma -- An Edmond minister beat out thousands of fans to win a trip to the NBA draft lottery contest in New York.

The Oklahoma City Thunder held an online contest asking fans to explain why they would be the best pick to attend the lottery contest.

Seven words set Randy Roper, apart from the rest of the pack.

When he's not at work running the adult ministry at the Edmond Church of Christ, he enjoys Thunder basketball and joking around with his 9-year-old son.

"We joke about what people wear to Thunder games and the word Thunderwear is kind of a funny word," Pastor Roper said. "We thought, ‘What kind of goes with Thunderwear that has something to do with New York City?' and I thought, ‘Ah, Times Square.'"

Roper submitted "Gonna wear my Thunderwear in Times Square."

Thunder officials had about 2,100 online entries to whittle down to the top three. The public picked the winner.

"When we selected the final three, that was the one we thought would probably win it," said Thunder spokesman Tom Savage.

Roper was surprised to receive an e-mail notifying him that he won, but he wasn't convinced.

"I didn't want to get too excited about it," Roper said.

But it's true. Roper is going to New York to be in the audience during the draft lottery.

"I don't know exactly what to expect, but I am excited about it, just to be there and see how it all happens and to see what pick the Thunder gets," Roper said.

Randy said he is taking his wife with him to New York and she will also attend the lottery drawing next Tuesday.

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