Magic Johnson finally breaks silence on why Lakers didn't draft Jayson Tatum

Former Lakers president Magic Johnson recently explained why the team didn’t draft Jayson Tatum in the 2017 NBA Draft. With the second pick, the Lakers chose Lonzo Ball, while Tatum went third to the Celtics. Many questioned the decision, as Tatum became the best player in his class. Tatum was also disappointed, as he had hoped to play for Kobe Bryant’s team.

During a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, the former president said his team consisted of too many forwards in 2017. They had guys like Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, and Larry Nance Jr. at the time. With that in mind, it made more sense to draft a point guard instead of another forward.

"We took a look at [Jayson Tatum], I was the president," Johnson said. "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. He would've been sitting on the bench."

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Jayson Tatum getting drafted by Celtics was a blessing in disguise

Jayson Tatum wanted to play for the Lakers to honor his idol, Kobe Bryant, but the team passed on him due to having too many forwards. Instead, Tatum was drafted third by the Celtics in 2017. Though ironic, joining Boston proved a blessing in disguise. After trading away Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, the Celtics rebuilt around Tatum and Jaylen Brown, creating a top Eastern Conference contender for years.

Through challenges, Jayson Tatum became one of the NBA's brightest stars. After multiple Finals appearances, he proved his leadership by winning the 2024 NBA title, solidifying his place among the Boston Celtics' greats.

Had JT played for the LA Lakers, Magic Johnson's assumptions of him not becoming a star might've come true. Tatum would've eventually lived under the shadows of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, giving him no room to evolve into the star that he is today.