Do the 76ers Play Better With Meek Mill in Attendance?

Meek Mill has taken a lot of L's since his beef with Drake. But could he actually be good luck for Philly sports teams?

Oct 01, 2016
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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Meek Mill has taken a lot of L's since his beef with Drake started in summer 2015. There's the constant internet harassment from Drake's legion of stans, the back-to-back diss tracks from Drizzy that had soccer moms in the streets wondering if Meek was on a world tour or his girl's tour, and, most recently, a public back-and-forth with legendary Philly rapper Beanie Sigel that would make anyone looking out for Meek's future health a bit nervous.

With all of the negative energy surrounding the rapper in the past year, the Complex Sports team couldn't help but wonder: Does Meek Mill's misfortune transfer to his favorite teams?

Meek has been a frequent front-row attendee at Sixers' games over the past, often with Nicki Minaj in tow. (He also went to one Eagles game, but that doesn't count because at that point every player on the Eagles hated Chip Kelly's allegedly racist but probably not racist guts.) We looked closely at the nine Sixers home games Meek attended since the Drake situation first started and discovered an unexpected pattern. Do Philly sports teams play better or worse with Meek in attendance? Find out below.

Sixers Versus Cavaliers

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Date: November 2, 2015

Spread: Sixers +12

Final score: 107-100, Cavs

Did they cover the spread? YES!

This was apparently Meek Mill's first home game of the season, and it did not disappoint. Well, if you were looking for a 76ers win you might've been disappointed, but if you were expecting that you're probably also very dumb. The Sixers won 10 games total last year. The Cavs won the championship. It's crazy to think the spread was only Cavs by 12, but either way, the Sixers performed better than expected with Milly courtside. The Drake-heavy sideline interview may have kept him away from the Wells Fargo Center for a couple months, but his presence possibly helped keep the home team close that night.

Sixers Versus Cavaliers (Again)

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Date: January 10, 2016

Spread: Sixers +16.5

Final score: 95-85, Cavs

Did they cover the spread?  YES!

The first of a string of home games Meek would attend in January, this was the second straight game he would see in which the Sixers miraculously covered the spread against the world-beating, LeBron-led Cleveland Cavaliers. He's not "upset the champs"-level good luck, but he's "make Philly fans in the Las Vegas sportsbook a few bucks"-level good luck, at least.

Sixers Versus Bulls

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Date: January 14, 2016

Spread: Sixers +8.5

Final score: 115-111, Bulls

Did they cover the spread? YES!

Those footsteps you hear? They're from gambling addicts running to put money on Philly whenever Meek is courtside. The actual win-loss Ls continue to pile up, sure, but Meek is pushing his squad in the right direction at least. And hell, MONTELL JORDAN himself performed the halftime show at this game. Nicki's man is not only affecting the score, he's having a positive impact on the halftime entertainment.

Sixers Versus Trail Blazers

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Date: January 16, 2016

Spread: Sixers +6

Final score: 114-89, SIXERS

Did they cover the spread? YES!

Look at Meek being present for one of his home team's 10 wins in 82 tries! Nobody could have guessed the Sixers would beat the Blazers, let alone trounce them by 25 points. It was actually the first time in four years they beat a team by 25 or more. Coincidence? Don't think so.

Sixers Versus Suns

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Date: January 26, 2016

Spread: Sixers -2

Final score: 113-103, SIXERS

Did they cover the spread?  YES!

Back-to-back wins with Omeeka in attendance? Back-to-back like the cover of Lethal Weapon? Back-to-back like Jordan '96-'97? Okay, not quite.

But attending two straight W's for a team that barely hit double-digit victories? You can't deny Meek's influence!

Sixers Versus Warriors

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Date: January 30, 2016

Spread: Sixers +16.5

Final score: 108-105, Warriors

Did they cover the spread? YES!

Meek Mill almost saw the 2016 Philadelphia 76ers (one of the worst teams in NBA history) beat the 2016 Golden State Warriors (perhaps the best team in NBA history). Read that sentence again if you're still a Good Luck Meek Mill non-believer. Steph Curry and the Warriors needed a last-second Harrison Barnes three to take out the Sixers, which remains a baffling thing to even consider. Golden State was favored by 16.5! Had Philly won, former tank-first Sixers GM Sam Hinkie might've traded everybody.

Sixers Versus Hawks

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Date: February 3, 2014

Spread: Sixers +7.5

Final score: 124-86, Hawks

Did they cover the spread? NOPE!

They must've played "Hotline Bling" a bunch of times during pregame or something, because this was a bloodbath. Hey, you can't barely lose them all!

Sixers Versus Kings

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Date: February 10, 2016

Spread: Sixers +5.5

Final score: 114-110, Kings

Did they cover the spread?: YES!

A Kings vs. Sixers game? Meek probably fell asleep. Nonetheless, they still covered the spread. The man is a four-leaf clover in Pumas.

Sixers Versus Wizards

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Date: February 26, 2016

Spread: Sixers +7.5

Final score: 103-94, Wizards

Did they cover the spread? NOPE!

This is only the second time Meek Mill attended a game in which his team didn't at least cover the spread—and the Sixers missed it by less than a basket.

Bottom Line

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Number of games: 9

Spreads covered: 7

Wins: 2

If you read this post and don't come away believing Meek Mill is a 76ers good luck charm, you need to check your cynicism. Or check your reading comprehension skills. Whatever it is—you're wrong.

The games speak for themselves: A team that won 10 games total all season long experienced two of those wins while Meek's feet were touching hardwood. And, of the nine NBA games he attended, Meek's Sixers covered the spread in seven of them. For one of the worst teams in North American sports history, that's damn near remarkable.

The home team covered 78 percent of the games Meek Mill attended. Don't think Drake can say that. 

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