“We already had too many forwards!” Magic Johnson clear air around not drafting Jayson Tatum to Lakers
Magic Johnson explained why he chose not to draft Jayson Tatum during the 2017 NBA Draft.
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Jayson Tatum and Magic Johnson
Los Angeles Lakers legend and former team president Magic Johnson recently explained why he passed on drafting Jayson Tatum for the “Lakeshow.” Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Johnson revealed the reasoning behind overlooking the “Big Deuce” during the 2017 NBA Draft.
Magic Johnson directly addressed Jayson Tatum, explaining that the Lakers passed on him during the 2017 draft despite holding the No. 2 overall pick. Johnson cited an already crowded forward lineup featuring Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance Jr., and Julius Randle, which would have likely relegated Tatum to the bench or caused tension in the locker room over playing time.
We took a look at [Jayson Tatum], I was the president, but the problem was, we were top heavy in forwards. I couldn’t take him. We had Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr., so we already had too many forwards. If I took another forward, we would never see this Tatum if he ended up with the Lakers.
Magic Johnson stated
Johnson further explained that Tatum would have likely been sitting on the bench and mentioned that Tatum’s agent did not want the Lakers to work him out, as he preferred Tatum avoid joining a team already overloaded with forwards.
[Jayson Tatum’s] agent didn’t want him to work out for [the Lakers]…because we already had too many forwards
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) December 17, 2024
Magic Johnson, Lakers Pres. of Basketball Operations (Feb. 2017–Apr. 2019), tells @JumpShot8 and @TermineRadio why LA didn’t draft Jayson Tatum with the 2nd overall pick pic.twitter.com/SYQjOF3854
On a recent episode of the Club 520 podcast, Jayson Tatum had confessed that he was left “devastated” when he found out that the Lakers chose Lonzo Ball over him. Growing up idolizing his basketball hero, Kobe Bryant, Tatum always dreamed of playing in the purple and gold. However, as fate would have it, the Lakers chose Lonzo Ball, while their rivals, the Boston Celtics, selected Tatum as the number 3 overall pick.
In hindsight, everything worked out for the best. Lonzo Ball delivered lackluster performances during his two seasons with the Lakers before they traded him, while Tatum secured multiple conference titles and eventually won an NBA championship in 2024.
It was Kobe Bryant’s legacy that shaped Jayson Tatum’s basketball journey
Kobe Bryant was Jayson Tatum’s favorite basketball player growing up. From watching his games to having Kobe’s autograph to eventually getting the opportunity to work out with him, Jayson Tatum has come a long way by following in his hero’s footsteps.
In Netflix’s Starting 5 documentary series, Tatum shared an embarrassing childhood incident that really captures the essence of his love for the ‘Black Mamba’.
Kobe was… he was everything for me. I just felt the connection. I used to watch all his games, and highlights on YouTube. He really inspired me to wanna go after and chase my dream.
Jayson Tatum said
Tatum recalled a school assignment where students were asked to write about their future goals. Naturally, he wrote about his dream of playing in the NBA, inspired by his favorite player. However, his teacher dismissed it as unrealistic, leaving Tatum embarrassed and in tears.
Today, Tatum has proved the doubters wrong, becoming a 5-time All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, and NBA champion. He holds records like the most points in a Game 7 and an All-Star Game. This season, he’s averaging 28.2 points, 9 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, driving the Celtics’ title hopes and steadily emulating his idol.
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Anubhav Bajpeyee
(238 Articles Published)