Ex-Knick Kiki VanDeWeghe is the NBA’s executive VP who is in his sixth season moderating the behind-the-scenes actual ping-pong-ball lottery drawing and has an interesting viewpoint of how the NBA draft lottery works. He gives his thought about the process, the anticipation and the changes ahead of the drawing Tuesday to determine the order for the June 20 draft — when Duke star Zion Williamson is expected to be the No. 1 pick.

Question: How nervous are you for the teams, and do you sense the drama in that room?

VanDeWeghe: Absolutely. The interesting thing is everybody is in the same spot. It’s an interesting dynamic. The other teams are competitors with each other. But they are all in this room sequestered together — all really nervous and excited at the same time. It’s an interesting atmosphere. It’s very cordial because everyone is in this together. The cell phones are put away, there’s no way to communicate with anybody. We’re a group amongst ourselves. We know a little bit ahead of everyone else what the results are.

Q: What is it like knowing the blockbuster news before the rest of the world?

A: The minutes are really long. I can tell you that. Once you find out what the results are — it’s so important to what it means to a franchise — that they’re dying for everyone else to know. In some respects, the teams want to make sure, hey, we didn’t get the top pick, we did get the top pick. All those things you’re dying to communicate. It’s a very long half-hour.

Q: What about all those intricate rules for ping-pong balls bouncing in the hopper for 20 seconds for the first drawing, then 10 seconds for the last three balls. What’s the science?

A: The people who designed this device and strategy is a company [Smart Play] that runs a lot of lotteries in different areas. They have a formula to mixing things up, making sure it’s absolutely random and work with our group internally. They worked out the mathematics that everything is random and everyone has the appropriate chances. The timing as far as 10 seconds vs. 20 seconds — they want to make sure it’s done correctly.

Q: What’s been a memorable reaction to a lottery winner or loser?

A: What I remember is just the anticipation on everybody’s face. Just on the edge of their seat if you can imagine as these ping-pong balls are coming out. The elation and sighs of relief — from the individual reps of the teams. But I’m more focused on what I got to do in picking the ball out of the hopper. I got my job focusing on that. What I noticed, it’s the anticipation and excitement. The atmosphere is just palpable. That’s something that translates out when they have the reveal publicly.

Q: How do you respond to some fans/media still thinking the lottery is potentially fixable?

A: This is part of my job. I can tell everybody that every assurance is taken that it’s random. Knowing the process very well after three years, there’s no question in my mind.

Q: Why has the NBA lottery become a cultural phenomenon — even the NHL adopted this year a similar pageantry?

A: We have the some of the greatest fans in the world. They’re basketball fans. They know the players. They know the draft. They know their team’s chances. They follow all this stuff. They know what getting the first pick, the third pick, even the 10th or 15th pick, what it means. They know the mock drafts and know the college players and in some cases watched the kids grow up through youth basketball. They obviously have their favorites and the hopes, desires and dreams for their favorite team. They feel connected through this. That’s very powerful.

A: If you look at us over the years, ever since the lottery was instituted, we’ve adjusted them five times. The idea of having the three teams with the least wins, they have 14 percent [chance of winning the first pick] — the odds smoothing out a bit. I think it is good. It’s a fair way to do it. Is it perfect? There probably is no perfect [way]. It’s a work in progress. That’s one of the great things working here we‘re always trying to improve things. That comes from the top with Adam [Silver, NBA commissioner]. Always trying to innovate and make sure, even though this is a fantastic year and the playoffs are great and we’re seeing some of the best talent we’ve ever had on the basketball court. How can we make it better?

Q: Any thoughts of replacing ping-pong balls for another lottery format?

A: We continue to look at the best way to do things. The consensus is the way we do it is the best way today.

Q: You’re a former Knick, your grandfather Ernie played for the Knicks and you’re a New York resident. How much does Tuesday means to Knicks fans?

A: You got a lot of franchises in that room that are really excited. Whatever I say for the Knicks, I can [say the same] for a number of franchises. The hopes, dreams and excitement is palpable in the room for everybody. Outside that room when they present the lottery picks, it’s the same for the fans watching in all the 14 different markets. They’re excited to see where their team will pick.

Q: Did you watch the 1985 Patrick Ewing lottery as a Nuggets player? And what are your thoughts on Ewing, one of your former teammates, repping the Knicks on the dais, though Allan Houston will be in the actual drawing room?

A: I didn’t see it on TV. Knowing me, I was in the gym trying to work on my jump shot. Part of what makes the lottery ceremony so special is the chance to see such a wonderful gathering of people representing the teams that our fans feel a unique and special connection with.

Q: Does the Zion Williamson prize make it bigger?

A: I think it’s dramatic every year. From my position, I don’t want to comment on an individual player as you know. What can I say is, it’s an exciting time. We have some of the great playoffs series of the second round and now add on top of it the lottery and combine. This is sort of the entry point layered on top of the most exciting part of our season. I love this time of year. I can’t wait to see what happens.