Magic Johnson finally speaks out on the Lakers’ decision not to select Jayson Tatum in the draft.

Magic Johnson recently shared the reasoning behind the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision not to draft Jayson Tatum with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Instead, the Lakers selected Lonzo Ball, while Tatum went third to the Boston Celtics. Johnson explained that the team already had an abundance of forwards, including Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, and Larry Nance Jr., making the selection of another forward less practical. He felt adding Tatum to a roster full of forwards would have led to him sitting on the bench, preventing his development.

Tatum, who had hoped to play for the Lakers to honor his idol Kobe Bryant, found a new home with the Celtics. In hindsight, the Celtics’ selection turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Tatum. Boston, after trading away its veteran stars, built around Tatum and Jaylen Brown, becoming a perennial contender in the Eastern Conference. Tatum’s leadership helped the Celtics secure the 2024 NBA Championship, solidifying his status as one of the league’s brightest stars.

Had Tatum joined the Lakers, Magic Johnson’s prediction of him being overshadowed by LeBron James and Anthony Davis might have been accurate. Instead, the Celtics’ environment allowed Tatum to emerge as the team’s focal point, ultimately shaping him into the superstar he is today.